Senior Residential Development Lawyer

IDEX Consulting; Leeds; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading national real estate practice in the UK seeks a Residential Development Lawyer for its established team in Leeds. The role involves managing site acquisitions, preparing contracts, and collaborating with housebuilders and landowners. Ideal candidates will have 3-8 years PQE, strong negotiation skills, and a commitment to high-quality work within a supportive environment. Flexible working is fully supported, offering a pathway to long-term career growth.

Benefits

Well-defined progression framework

Positive team culture

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience in residential development or broader real estate.
• Experience with housebuilders, promoters, landowners and local authorities.
• Ability to manage matters autonomously.

Responsibilities

• Involved in site acquisitions and disposals.
• Drafting conditional and unconditional contracts.
• Managing complex land structures and transactions.

Skills

3-8 years PQE

Strong drafting skills

Negotiation skills

Commercial awareness

Client-focused approach

Collaborative mindset

Job description

A leading national real estate practice is seeking a Residential Development Lawyer to join its established housebuilding and strategic land team. This is a significant opportunity for an ambitious Lawyer to work within one of the UK's largest specialist residential development groups, acting for an impressive roster of national housebuilders, regional developers, promoters, registered providers, landowners and local authorities.

Operating nationally with more than 80 Lawyers across related disciplines including planning, construction, environment, agriculture, plot sales, litigation and tax, the team offers both depth of expertise and exceptional support.

The Work

You will be involved in a broad range of residential development and strategic land matters, including:

• Site acquisitions and disposals
• Conditional and unconditional contracts
• Options, overage and complex land structures
• Golden-brick and affordable housing transactions
• Promotion agreements, hybrid agreements and collaboration arrangements
• Back-to-back disposals and site assembly
• Infrastructure agreements including s38, s104 and s278
• Deeds of easement, service media rights and estate set‑up documentation
• Service charge and management arrangements
• Cross‑team collaboration with specialists across planning, construction, environmental, tax and agricultural matters (SDLT and VAT awareness advantageous)

The role offers high levels of responsibility, client exposure and the opportunity to contribute to key national housebuilder panel relationships.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• 3‑8 years PQE within residential development or broader real estate, with a clear interest in the sector
• Experience acting for housebuilders, promoters, landowners, registered providers, developers and/or local authorities
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills with the ability to manage matters autonomously where appropriate
• Commercial awareness and a client‑focused approach to advisory work
• A collaborative mindset and the willingness to support junior colleagues
• Professionalism, ambition and a commitment to delivering high‑quality technical work

What the Role Offers

• Exposure to high‑value, complex and strategically significant residential development matters
• A supportive national platform with excellent internal resources
• A well‑defined progression framework and genuine long‑term career prospects
• A positive and collaborative team culture with flexible working fully supported
• The opportunity to play a key role within a growing Leeds‑based team

For further information or to discuss this position in confidence, please contact:
Ellie Sedgwick
IDEX Consulting
[e-mail]

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