Legal Advice Helps Green-Fingered Homes Scheme

2nd November 2015

Wake Smith has provided the legal advice for a unique green-fingered residential development on a derelict site in Sheffield - which furnishes each home with an allotment plot.

Regional residential developer Campbell Homes has taken the two-acre derelict site at Loxley Works on Low Matlock Lane in Loxley and transformed the former steel rolling mill into 11 new two and three bedroom houses. Each property has an allocated garage, a parking space and a rear garden and also a large separate allotment plot giving the owners an opportunity to achieve a more self sufficient way of living by growing their own fruit and vegetables. Solicitors at Wake Smith worked with Hillsborough-based South Yorkshire developer Gary Campbell on the unique eco-style development providing property transaction work for the £300,000 brownfield site. Damien Donnelly, director in Wake Smith's commercial property team said: "I acted for Campbell Homes on the site acquisition last year, development finance, the appropriate electricity deed of easement and the forward selling agreements of the individual properties, nine of which have already been sold. "There are many legal considerations and frameworks to taking a brownfield site through to an eco-style residential development such as this. One of the requirements of planning specified by Sheffield City Council was the provision of the allotments space and communal gardens on the site which was a former factory. "It has been an extremely popular development in a lovely location with the homes being priced realistically hence the quick sales." Two homes remain available on the development, priced at £315,000 and £205,000, which has taken 15 months from the purchase of the land to handing over the keys to the new residents. Gary Campbell said: "Our latest innovative venture has brought an old local landmark back into use by providing quality homes in a fantastic setting. "I have worked with Damien at Wake Smith for a number of years and he provides a very comprehensive service. While I am managing the workload of a developer, I am confident that all the legal details are being taken care of, so that I can work to achievable timescales on innovative projects like this." Solar panels on the garage roofs at Loxley Works also contribute to the eco-friendly feel of the development, designed by Sheffield architects Coda. Campbell Homes Ltd has been building and restoring homes in the Sheffield City Region since 1994, and has built an extensive portfolio of over 800 homes to date, ranging from apartments to detached houses, conversions to listed buildings. Other Campbell Homes developments include Loxley House, the former Sea Cadets building on Ben Lane, Loxley; the former Dial House Working Men's Club on Ben Lane, Wadsley; and The Old Mill at Wadsley Bridge and a 66 apartment development at Gleadless. Councillor Terry Fox, Sheffield City Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: -It is great to see houses with allotment plots included, enabling the residents to grow their own fresh fruit and vegetables. Every initiative of this kind contributes to improving the environment and encouraging people to eat healthy diets. Sheffield has more than eight privately managed allotment sites. Sheffield City Council manages approximately 70 allotment sites with a total of 3,000 plots.