Our social housing development team supports registered providers and local authorities through every stage of housing delivery, from planning and acquisition to plot sales and final estate handover. We provide practical, commercially focused advice on residential and mixed use schemes, helping clients move projects forward with confidence.
Our social housing development team sits within Birketts’ wider social housing sector group and residential development team. We work with national and regional registered providers, as well as local authorities, on residential and mixed use schemes across East Anglia, Essex, Greater London, Kent and the South West. Our strength in development is supported by specialists across planning, construction, infrastructure, plot sales and related real estate disciplines, giving clients coordinated support across the full lifecycle of affordable housing delivery.
We advise on all aspects of housing delivery, including land led schemes, the acquisition of section 106 and additionality units, regeneration projects, bespoke development and partnership agreements, PRS disposals and onward affordable sales. Our team also supports clients with site set up, shared ownership documentation, nominations agreements, estate management support and infrastructure arrangements such as section 38, section 104 and section 278 agreements and ancillary easements. This breadth of experience helps clients identify development constraints early, structure transactions around planning and funding requirements and move efficiently from acquisition through to handover and disposal.
The team is led by experienced development specialists. Nicola Curle oversees the social housing development team and advises on complex land-led schemes, strategic acquisitions and joint venture collaborations. Paul Skelton specialises in site acquisitions for both s106 & additionality social housing delivery based on turnkey and golden brick development agreements deals. Kelvin Cooper leads the firm’s plot sales function, which includes a dedicated Social Housing Sales team dealing with shared ownership plot sales and staircasing, Right to Buy/Right to Acquire and related disposals. Jenny Stevens advises housing associations and local authorities on property matters, with particular expertise in asset management, shared ownership, residential transactions, leasehold work and complex title issues. Together, the team delivers practical, responsive advice shaped by deep sector knowledge and a clear understanding of housing delivery in practice.
Our Experience
Acquisition of 139 affordable homes
Advising a registered provider on the acquisition of 139 affordable homes from a national developer under a complex Land and Build Agreement. The matter involved section 106 and additionality units, phased land and unit transfers, security for the deposit, step in rights, a deed of variation to the section 106 agreement and advice on onward shared ownership sales.
Regeneration project delivering 241 new homes
Advising a housing provider on a major regeneration scheme involving the demolition of existing homes and the delivery of 241 new houses and apartments. Our role spans the full project lifecycle, including title and clawback issues, planning and CIL strategy, section 106 advice, build documentation, funding arrangements, estate management, plot sales and wider development support.
Golden Brick acquisition of 53 affordable homes
Acting for a registered provider on the acquisition of 53 affordable homes from a national housebuilder as part of a much larger mixed use development. We advised on a Golden Brick and Development Agreement, complex service charge arrangements, title and planning due diligence, shared ownership requirements and onward sales, helping to ensure all homes were treated and delivered as affordable housing.
The team is accessible, friendly and willing to engage in conversation about the various options we can take rather than being too prescriptive.
Chambers [UK 2026]