Steph Richards is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the Development and House Building team. She specialises in all matters concerning the residential development of land, with particular focus on secured lending, acting for both borrowers and lenders on property and development finance matters. Other areas of expertise include site acquisition and disposal, promotion agreements, overage arrangements, affordable housing sales, easements and planning and infrastructure agreements.
With over 10 years of industry experience, Steph advises developers holistically on matters concerning residential development sites. She assists clients for the entire lifecycle of a development, ranging from site acquisition and funding, through to set up of the plot sales for the completed units and everything in between.
Steph acts for a range of developers from regional housebuilders to individual developers, as well as banks and lending institutions, and has a wealth of experience in advising on a variety of developments.
She is driven by taking a commercial approach to transactions, seeking a nuanced and targeted result for her clients. Steph is known for combining technical rigour with a pragmatic, commercial approach, tailoring her advice to the pressures and nuance of each transaction and each client’s priorities.
Specialisms
- Secured lending, particularly involving development sites.
- Acquisition of land for residential development.
- Negotiating easements.
- Setting up new build developments for plot sales.
Steph's key cases
A few of Steph’s key cases include:
- Advising on the acquisition of a residential development site in Essex including immediate sub-sale of affordable housing units on a land and build basis.
- Strategic option of land in Oxfordshire.
- Preparing leases for group-company plot sales to facilitate re-gearing of finance on completed residential development site.
- Refinance of mixed use property comprising a private resident, wedding venue, and farm shop in Hampshire.
Steph's awards and recognitions
- Band 1, Commercial property, group (Thames Valley) – Legal 500
- Band 1, Real Estate up to £10 million, group (Thames Valley) – Chambers
Steph Richards's expertise
Development and house building
Planning and infrastructure
Plot sales
Property
Property finance
Contact Steph Richards
Please complete the enquiry form and Steph will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
Or get in touch by phone:
0118 952 7145
Related insights from Steph Richards
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Unconditional contracts for the sale of land
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Changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax in the 2024 Budget
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Codes of conduct for house builders