Squire Patton Boggs has advised Apsley House Capital on the acquisition of the 12-acre Soho Loop site, near Birmingham City Hospital. Apsley House has entered into a joint venture with Galliard Homes to purchase the site from City and Provincial Properties and plans to transform it into a multimillion-pound canal-side development of hundreds of homes in central Birmingham.

Squire Patton Boggs was instrumental in getting the Soho Loop project off the ground, bringing Apsley House and Claremont Properties together to collaborate on the acquisition. Partners from the firm saw an opportunity to introduce key clients and like-minded businesses on a project that would bring genuine benefits to Birmingham, while supporting and enhancing the objectives of clients.

Robert Norris, the Squire Patton Boggs partner advising Claremont Properties, said: “We believe that a key part of our role is to introduce our clients and help to identify opportunities. We were, therefore, delighted to introduce Apsley House Capital and Claremont Properties and to see that their collaboration has resulted in an investment which will transform this part of Birmingham for future generations.”

Partner Gary Paddison and associate James Thorman advised on the acquisition. Mr. Paddison added: “Our involvement was a real team effort involving lawyers from London and Birmingham. Through our offices in the UK and internationally, our connections in particular markets run deep and we are keen to use these to the benefit of clients.”

Soho Loop sits alongside the Birmingham Main Line canal. Birmingham City Council has already given planning consent for 500 homes. Apsley House Capital intends to submit an application for revised planning consent to create up to 800 homes and extend the city core in a green, garden-style environment.

The Squire Patton Boggs team advising on the project also included Richard Vaughan.