Brachers advises East Malling Trust on sale of land to housing developer

Brachers has advised the East Malling Trust on the sale of a 16-acre plot, as part of its strategy to fund the delivery of the first phase of its campus redevelopment.

The trust, which supports horticultural and plant based research, sold the land to housing developer Dandara, who plan to build 110 houses on the site. The sale of the land will support the trust in its plans for a state-of-the-art facilities building and greenhouses, as part of its wider plans to expand the area’s reputation for world-class research into fruit trees and soft fruit growing.

Brachers’ Commercial Property team provided legal advice throughout the sale process, taking into account the requirement of the trust that the sale of the land should not impact on their research activities or their ability to develop their estate.

As a result, the plans for the housing development are sympathetic to the natural beauty of the surrounding land, with mature trees and historic hedges being maintained. The development also aligns with the trust’s commitment to be a good neighbour to residents in East Malling and Ditton.

Ash Jilani, Partner in Commercial Property, said: “We are delighted that we were able to advise East Malling Trust on this transaction. The investment that comes from the sale of the land will support their ambitious plans for redevelopment and further enhance their reputation as leaders in the field of horticultural research.”

Sally Flanagan, Executive Director at the East Malling Trust, said: “We would like to thank Brachers for their expert advice in this transaction, which provides important revenue for our redevelopment plans.

“Minimising the impact on our research activities and the surrounding landscape was an important aspect of a successful sale for us and Brachers demonstrated their commitment to obtaining the right result for their clients by helping us to achieve this.”

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