Local authorities must innovate, quickly and cost effectively, to overcome the challenges they face.
A fast-changing regulatory environment coupled with spending cuts and a shifting political landscape brought about by Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic pose key challenges for local authorities.
Firstly, as part of the ‘Build Back Better’ agenda, rapid decisions are needed to approve complex development proposals and then to complete the transactions as quickly as possible. To do this, local authorities must secure funding and navigate the procurement process which many are achieving by striking partnerships with the private sector.
Secondly, the reduction of budgets and internal resource poses a risk to local authorities’ existing assets. In particular, those with large property portfolios need to ensure they are actively and efficiently managed to achieve capital growth and maximise income receipts, otherwise their assets may under-perform or be at risk of being lost altogether.
Local authorities are increasingly seeking specialist advice in order to support their own legal teams to resolve their challenges and achieve their commercial aims.
As experts in Real Estate law, we can provide guidance on acquisitions, disposals, development, construction and litigation as well as planning matters such as judicial reviews, highways and compulsory purchases.
Our expertise goes further and we have specialist local government lawyers with a strong track record in advising on a wide range of key issues including public procurement, commercial contracts, construction, freedom of information requests, data protection and employment matters.
We act nationally for a number of local authorities including Warrington Borough Council, Halton Borough Council, Oldham Borough Council, Lancaster City Council and Essex County Council.
We have recently been reappointed to the North West Legal Consortium. This means a consortium member authority can instruct us at pre-agreed rates and without undergoing a lengthy procurement process.
