Development corporation names two firms for £3m legal advice on garden city

The Ebbsfleet Development Corporation has named two law firms, Pinsent Masons and Gowling WLG, to a £3m, two-year contract to provide legal advice on a proposed new garden city.

The Corporation was established by the Department of Communities and Local Government in April 2015 to drive delivery of a garden city in Ebbsfleet, North Kent.

The Government’s Spending Review subsequently earmarked up to £270m for investment in the project.

The EDC has since agreed a Core Infrastructure Programme to drive delivery of a series of housing, utilities, commercial and transportation projects. The EDC holds development management powers within its area and will determine a range of major schemes.

It said legal advice was required with the delivery of these planning powers and the development and delivery of projects, “a number of which will require complex land assembly”. An NSIP is envisaged in the area.

“Bespoke legal advice will be required in many instances. In particular early advice on scoping schemes and identifying areas of risk, options for delivery and legal structures will be required,” the Corporation added.

Pinsent Masons was the sole firm appointed to the projects lot (worth an estimated £2m over two years), while Gowling WLG was the only provider named to the planning lot (worth an estimated £1m).