District council seeks solicitors to advise on major development agreement

Three Rivers District Council is looking to hire solicitors to advise on achieving its obligations under a major development agreement for the South Oxhey area.

The South Oxhey Initiative will replace the current struggling 1950s shopping parade and flats above with a new district centre “offering high quality housing and a significantly improved retail offer, including a substantial new food store”, the council said.

A developer partner is due to be selected this month. The council has agreed to be responsible for ensuring that third party interests are acquired either by negotiation or using compulsory purchase powers, such that vacant possession can be delivered in line with the developer's programme.

“It is therefore essential that the appointed firm has relevant and recent experience of providing advice to local authorities on compulsory purchase and landlord and tenant matters on similar schemes – that is to say, in the order of [£120m] GDV with a mixture of residential and multiple commercial interests,” Three Rivers added.