The professional partnership between Durham City’s leading law firm, Swinburne Maddison LLP (Swinburne Maddison) and Theakston Estate Company Limited (Theakston) is gearing up a pace as two new development sites are soon to be released to the market at Lambton Park, near Chester-le-Street.
The land was originally made available for development when Theakston took up the first option agreement for a 111- hectare site as the ‘promoter’ of the Lambton Park site with the aim of facilitating the transformation of this unique site.
Miller Homes was the residential development partner to be awarded the first site, which saw 106 luxury homes built in the Victorian style and is now nearing completion.
Bellway plc was the next developer to secure a site in February 2023, which is being marketed under the name of Hedworths Green and includes a mix of stunning two-bedroom apartments, three, four and five-bedroom homes in the Georgian style.
The third development site, Lionfields, was awarded to Robertson Homes at the end of 2023. This will see the construction of 57 four, five and six-bedroom prestige homes in the Arts and Crafts style.
Now, two more sites are due to be released, once planning approval is determined – a site for 30 self-build plots on a site adjacent to the Lionfields development and a mixed-use scheme, Bowes Gate, which features 35,000 sq ft of commercial space and will act as the beating heart of the development or ‘community hub’.
Working alongside the Trustees of Lambton Estate, commercial property partner at Swinburne Maddison, Simon Robinson, has played a major role in the site’s success as a highly sought-after development location.
He has worked in an advisory and legal role alongside Theakston for twenty-five years and at Lambton Estate for over 10 years, providing the full range of legal work associated with plot sales, negotiation of contracts, ancillary documentation and advice on infrastructure agreements.
Commenting on the release of these latest sites, Simon said:
“Each new site takes around nine months of legal work to reach contract completion. I am also working closely with the Trustees of Lambton Estate’s solicitors, Withers Worldwide LLP in London, and GSC Grays, the managing agent acting on behalf of Lambton Estate.
Director of Theakston, Sam Marlow, added: “At all stages of the project Simon has provided commercially clear advice and a robust contractual framework within which the development is being delivered. His work on the negotiation of the infrastructure agreements ensures the infrastructure investment we make is adopted by the statutory authority as expeditiously as possible.”
“It continues to be a busy and exciting time at Lambton Park and we are delighted to see the site really beginning to take shape now. Once we get planning consent for our current submissions, we will begin work on the next development opportunities.”
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