KJD's property and planning department acts for a broad range of clients including small owner managed businesses through to subsidiaries of multi nationals and plc’s. Within this range we advise, amongst others, property developers, manufacturers, housing associations, financial institutions and mineral operators.

KJD take a proactive and flexible approach to fees particularly in relation to planning/ development work where we are always willing to consider undertaking work with an element of fee risk and structuring our fees to the ultimate success of the development project.

The property and planning department consists of teams of lawyers who are organised into the following specialist units which enables us to offer our clients the widest possible range of specialist advice for all their property needs.

commercial property
The commercial property team advises clients on a range of commercial property transactions. The team has a particular specialism in housing association matters. The main areas of work are:-

• sale/disposal

• landlord and tenant

• investment property

• security

• corporate support

• housing associations

• compulsory purchase

development
The development team advises landowners and developers on a range of development matters including residential, retail, leisure and employment. The team work closely with the planning and environmental team in particular offering clients a unique "one stop" service for site appraisal/acquisition, obtaining planning permission, site marketing, sale negotiation and disposal. We are able to achieve this through long established contacts with major property developers. The team advises on all aspects of property development including:-

• site assembly

• acquisition/option/conditional contract

• easements/wayleaves

• infrastructure/adoption agreements

• construction agreements

• sale negotiation and disposal

planning and environmental
KJD has one of the largest dedicated planning and environmental teams in the Midlands. The team advises a variety of clients, ranging from individual landowner/developers to national and multi-national companies on a broad range of planning and environmental work including:-

• planning
  local plan representations, objections and monitoring
  preparing, negotiating and obtaining planning permissions
  conducting planning appeals
  drafting and negotiating planning agreements
  all aspects of enforcement
  judicial review
  

• environmental
  waste management, including licensing
  advice on contaminated land
  nuisance
  negotiating warranties, indemnities on corporate
  transactions

• minerals
  advice on mineral planning applications
  reviews of old mineral permissions

• highways
  compulsory purchase,including route negotiation and advice on compensation
  road closures and traffic regulation orders
  footpath/bridleway law

The team has strong links with highway, landscape, environmental and other consultants, and specialist planning barristers chambers. It works closely with the other teams in the department on the acquisition, development and disposal of major sites. It also lends support to the corporate and dispute resolution departments on all aspects of planning and environmental law. The planning team undertakes long term pro-active strategies with clients in relation to local plans and structure plans to ensure clients’ future as well as current planning/development interests are best served. The team undertakes its own advocacy at planning enquiries.

minerals and agriculture team
KJD has a long established reputation for its expertise on mining and minerals. The minerals team advises both landowners and mineral operators on a variety of matters. The main areas of work are:-

• sale/purchase of minerals interests

• mineral leases/licences

• mineral options

• comprehensive mineral title audits

The minerals team works closely with the planning team on many mineral transactions.

The agricultural team advises estate landowners, charities and farmers on all aspects of agricultural property matters including:-

• the sale and purchase of agricultural land/estates

• agricultural tenancies

• the sale of manorial interests

• advice in connection with quotas, arable aid payments and other MAFF/European rural schemes.

residential
The residential team acts for housing associations and individuals and has established contacts with a number of local agencies.

Head of department: David Jones
contact details