Eaglescliffe Development Site – Residential Land Administration
Moorfields were appointed as Administrators over a 115-acre development site located in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, with planning permission for 840 residential units. The site, valued at approximately £20 million, represented a significant strategic housing opportunity within the region.
The appointment followed financial distress, Moorfields were instructed to stabilise the position, maximise asset value, and deliver an efficient exit through sale.
Objectives
- Protect and enhance the site’s planning and development value.
- Address key planning and technical issues, including abnormal costs and affordable housing requirements.
- Undertake remediation works to improve marketability.
- Secure a sale to a reputable housebuilder to maximise creditor returns.
Moorfields’ Actions
- Conducted a detailed review of planning obligations, successfully negotiating a reduction in affordable housing units and key abnormal cost elements, improving viability.
- Oversaw remediation and enabling works to enhance the site’s attractiveness and development readiness.
- Engaged specialist property and planning agents to structure and launch a targeted marketing campaign.
- Liaised with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure ongoing compliance and maintain the integrity of planning consents.
- Managed a competitive bidding process that attracted strong interest from national developers.
Results
- The site was successfully sold to a PLC housebuilder, ensuring delivery of the planned 840-unit residential scheme.
- Significant value uplift achieved through proactive planning negotiation and site remediation.
- Secured lender recoveries optimised through a well-managed disposal strategy.
- Delivered a successful exit for stakeholders and supported the long-term regeneration of the Eaglescliffe area.
