Transforming the West Sussex landscape

Our Firm has worked with Countryside Partnerships – the housing partnerships delivery arm of Vistry Group – for more than four decades, assisting it on a variety of real estate, construction, corporate, tax and planning issues.

Working in partnership with housing associations, public bodies, landowners and institutional private rental operators, Countryside Partnerships specialises in multiple tenures, including affordable homes, build to rent homes and homes for private sale.

In 2024, we were delighted to advise the company on its acquisition of the Ford Airfield Site in Arundel, West Sussex and the subsequent sale of part of the site to a joint venture between the company and Abri. The full development is to deliver 1,500 homes which includes affordable housing, as well as wider community infrastructure including commercial and retail space, a primary school, and a care home.

Our team was led by Real Estate Partner Alexander Gold, with support from Associate Sarah Keens on the acquisition side and Corporate Partner Sarah Wigington led on the creation of the joint venture between the company and Abri, with support from Associate Grace Hudson. The wider team included Partner Suzi Gatward (Real Estate), Partner James Worthington (Construction), Senior Associate Rebecca Morjaria (Construction) and Senior Associate Edith Lai (Banking).

“Providing affordable and private housing remains one of our most significant societal challenges and it is a pleasure to be able to support Countryside and Abri as they jointly deliver this impressive scheme.”

Sarah Wigington
Partner

"We are grateful to have been able to draw on the combined expertise of Charles Russell Speechlys’ first-class Corporate, Real Estate and Construction teams to reach this exciting milestone,” says Vistry Group’s Regeneration and Growth Director Marc Thompson. “This project, in support of our strategy, will deliver a significant number of mixed-tenure homes alongside our long-term partner Abri.”

Marc Thompson
Regeneration and Growth Director, Vistry Group

Our Firm recently assisted the company with the establishment of a joint venture with Warwickshire County Council and its property arm and strategic planning advice on major new residential-led developments in Essex. We also advised on the Greenwich Millenium Village joint venture between Countryside and Taylor Wimpey for over 25 years on all aspects of the Greenwich Millenium Village mixed use development.