With over twenty years' experience, Bela has expertise in advising clients and leading on complex real estate projects. Bela has particular expertise in high-value development matters with a focus on the Build To Rent sector and urban regeneration.
Bela advises a number of funds supporting investment by international investors into the UK real estate market.
Projects Bela has led include (amongst other elements) structuring acquisitions and disposals, development and investment financing, security, overage and payment structuring, phased site delivery and portfolio based transactions.
Experience
Examples of experience include:
- Advising and representing on Build to Rent schemes including (amongst other elements) the acquisition of the sites, development financing, refinancing following completion of build, coordinating the various development consents and ancillary documents (easements and otherwise), assisting in the setting up of operational leases following completion of the build (requiring bespoke drafting mechanisms to provide for phased release and reverse service charges). As the sites moved into funding platforms, this included liaising with (in addition to funder requirements), satisfying platform partners as key Real Estate advisor. Schemes Bela has advised on include an £8bn fund on a number of schemes across the UK including sites in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and an inward investment joint venture for the structuring and delivery of a build to rent scheme for the delivery of housing in the City
- Acquisition and development of phased mixed residential and commercial sites in London by way of joint venture for private developers seeking to partner with residential providers of social housing. One complex matter required bespoke structuring to provide for decanting, appropriation, planning, viability, security and environmental concerns
- A forward purchase from a private developer of all the affordable homes out of their proposed strategic acquisition and development of a heavily contaminated large mixed brownfield and greenfield site in Surrey. The scheme would deliver over 2,000 homes comprising of mixed commercial, retail and residential development by means of an umbrella agreements, phased delivery, cross border and security considerations and the drafting of which the RP have expressed preference to replicate on other schemes. Gross developed value of in excess of £100m
- Advising on a substantial £35m UK Portfolio for a Middle Eastern Fund comprising of 16 freehold and leasehold mixed sites tenant occupied sites. Working collaboratively with clients when considering sites, assisting on risk assessment as part of the bidding process, assisting on acquisition and development going forward.
