Setfords has been appointed as legal advisor to Buckinghamshire Advantage, a council-led consortium, looking to create a major development in Buckinghamshire.
Buckinghamshire Advantage has submitted plans for Aylesbury Woodlands which include a major link road and other transport infrastructure to allow for a mixed use development that would create up to 9,000 jobs and 1,100 homes.
The plans include commercial premises, a sports village and a primary school.
Setfords Planning Consultant, Ifath Nawaz, who recently joined the firm, will be leading on advising the consortium on the legal agreement for the proposed development.
Ifath said: “This is a complicated and ambitious project and I am very pleased that Setfords has been appointed by Buckinghamshire Advantage to offer counsel. Myself and the rest of the Setfords planning team will be drawing on our extensive experience in planning law to help move this development forward.”
Richard Harrington, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have employed Setfords Solicitors because of their local experience on major projects and local government background, as well as offering best value.
“Aylesbury Woodlands is intended to be a high quality sustainable scheme designed to deliver green infrastructure. A key element of the scheme is the design and delivery of the Eastern Link Road through the Woodlands site to ensure key infrastructure is in place prior to commercial development. Aylesbury Woodlands will offer mixed land use with the provision of commercial premises to facilitate employment growth, housing and leisure opportunities to promote health and well-being.”
Ifath has over 20 years’ experience in planning having advised local authorities, private developers and private clients on a broad range of town and country matters. Her recent appointment as a consultant at Setfords forms part of the firm’s moves to create a team of specialist planning lawyers.
Ifath added: “The Aylesbury Woodlands development is exactly the type of complex, large-scale project we enjoy working on at Setfords. With our experience we can offer the expertise required to help progress the development on the legal agreement.”
Setfords CEO Guy Setford said: “The fact that after just a few weeks with the firm Ifath has secured a major contract such as this one shows how highly she is regarded within the planning industry.
“We expect the Aylesbury Woodlands development to be one of many new projects Ifath secures in the coming months as she looks to share her expert knowledge in planning with local authorities, private developers and individuals.”