Later living and healthcare providers face growing pressure to deliver more. Demand is rising, regulation is shifting, and expectations are evolving fast. By 2037, one in four people in the UK will be over 65. Yet the country is projected to face a chronic shortfall of residential care - a gap that’s widening as demand outpaces supply. From retirement villages to specialist care homes, operators must balance quality, sustainability and affordability. Developers and investors are responding with urgency, seeking opportunities that deliver both commercial value and social impact.

Shoosmiths helps clients lead with confidence. We bring together real estate, regulatory, corporate and employment expertise to support developers, funders and operators. We understand the sector’s nuances — including planning class use issues, the impact of commonhold reforms, affordable housing contributions, event fees and institutional lease structuring. Acting as an extension of our clients’ teams, we build long-term relationships that support delivery at every stage. We’ve delivered new schemes on challenging sites, advised on landmark joint ventures, and supported projects that meet the evolving needs of later life.

Recent experience

• advised Berkley Care Group as part of a the sale-and-leaseback transaction involving a £207m care home portfolio, including advising on a share acquisition of the Berkeley Care operating companies

• advising on the sale of three purpose-built care homes located in Carlisle, Harrogate and St Helens to Lovett Care over the past two years

• acting for Torsion Care on numerous site acquisitions for new care home developments, including sites in Wakefield, Bingley, Bromsgrove, Chesterfield, Durham, Otley and Brighouse

• advised Lovett Care on the redevelopment of the former Carlton Dene care home into a 65-apartment extra care facility and 22 affordable homes

• acting as the main legal advisor to Morrison Community Care Group as they expand across the UK, including advising on the acquisition of a site at South Queensferry for the development of a state-of-the-art care home