Bridge McFarland acts in multi-million pound health development

Acklam Hall.

LEADING Humber law firm Bridge McFarland have assisted with a deal to build a multi-million pound medical facility in the grounds of a Grade I listed building.

Lawyers from the firm’s offices on both sides of the Humber acted on behalf of Acklam Hall Estates Limited in the sale of part of the grounds of Acklam Hall for the new facility in Middlesbrough. The purchaser is an independent funder which will lease the finished building to private hospital operators Ramsay Health Care UK Operations Limited.

Developer WW Medical Facilities Limited, who were also advised by Bridge McFarland, will build a new state of the art, steel-framed hospital with 4,850 square metres of internal floor area incorporating operating theatres, endoscopy suite, a 19-bed in-patient ward, treatment and consulting rooms and a mobile MRI scanner. The project also includes car parking and the development of access roads, drains, services and landscaping.

The approximate developed value of the facility is around £20-million, and the longer term plan is for it to sit within a new medical village. Bridge McFarland’s client has planning permission for two GP practices as part of a wider medical village in the grounds of Acklam Hall and for further development of the Hall itself.

The sale of the site for the new hospital was conditional on the approval of planning permission, which has now been granted by Middlesbrough Council. Bridge McFarland also acted in the initial purchase of the Hall and 30 acres by Acklam Hall Estates Limited in 2014.

Acklam Hall dates back to 1680 and is the only Grade I listed building in Middlesbrough. Acklam Hall Estates Limited, have now completed a renovation project to provide a restaurant, wedding venue and further self-contained serviced office units. Bridge McFarland also acted in the sale of 54 residential units to Taylor Wimpey UK in an earlier phase of the development.

David Harvey, a Partner based in the firm’s Market Rasen office, said: “Acklam Hall Estates Limited and their associated company, WW Medical Facilities Limited, are long-standing clients. Their role as developer entailed negotiation of building contracts and a complex structure of warranties with contractors and subcontractors. These arrangements fed into the development agreement with Ramsay and the associated development funding agreement with the funder.”

Martyn Justice, a consultant to Bridge McFarland who works out of the Hull and Grimsby offices, added: “This has been a very satisfying development requiring an understanding of complex commercial agreements and working with parties acting as land owner, developer, funder, tenant and purchaser, each having their own precise requirements to be accommodated into the final structure of the transaction. Middlesbrough Council were also involved in cooperation with Acklam Hall Estates to ensure the future expansion of this prestigious site. An excellent cooperative working relationship with the parties involved has been essential to the success of the transaction.”

Neil Whittingham, a director of Acklam Hall Estate Limited, said: “I can only praise the efforts and dynamic approach of Bridge McFarland in coordinating a complex property deal. Establishing clear channels of communication has been the defining factor in ensuring that a proactive approach to delivering the framework of legal documents on time was a success.

“We identified a refreshing approach to a client and solicitor relationship with Bridge McFarland’s ready availability for meetings, conference calling, proactive contact with our client’s legal team and swift discussions. That helped us identify the advantages and risks associated with many commercial matters and then make fully informed decisions on how to proceed.”