Forsters wins two new public sector clients

Forsters has bolstered its public sector practice with two major client wins following referrals from surveyors.

The property firm has scooped its first instruction from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, as well as a new instruction in relation to a green field development from Suffolk County Council.

Forsters partner Smita Edwards, who is leading the teams advising on both developments, said that the firm was instructed by Suffolk County Council purely on the strength of a referral, while the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead asked the firm to submit a proposal to secure the instruction following a referral.

On the Windsor and Maidenhead development, Forsters is advising the council on the redevelopment of the King Edward Court shopping centre in Windsor, on which the council holds the freehold.

London & Associated Properties (LAP) recently had a planning application approved enabling it to extend the shopping centre by 60,000sq ft and include a new supermarket, larger retail units and a 113-bed Travelodge hotel. Construction is due to begin early next year.

LAP is being advised by Elizabeth Goss from Olswang.

Forsters has also been advising Suffolk County Council on a new pilot project with Ashwell Homes to develop ‘eco-homes’ on a 1.7 acre green field site at Chilton Woods near Sudbury.

This instruction has since been expanded to include the mixed-use development of an adjacent 170 acres, most of which is owned by the council.

The firm is already advising Suffolk County Council on the masterplanning and development agreement, also entered into with Ashwell, relating to this site.

Pinsents partner Arthur Lovitt is leading the team advising Ashwell.