Richard Adams

Counsel

London + 44.20.7039.5311

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Richard Adams practices planning law and has more than 20 years of experience representing clients on a range of planning and planning enforcement matters. He has extensive experience with planning agreements, including affordable housing obligations, and assessing planning situations for proposed purchases by clients. Richard also advises on highways law, including the stopping-up of highways in development scenarios. In addition, he handles compulsory purchase and judicial review matters.

Richard represents clients such as Greystar and Delancey. He advised Greystar in successfully procuring planning permission for more than 2,000 new homes to regenerate the site of the former Glaxo factory in Greenford, London. He also advised Greystar on their residential towers at Essex House, Croydon.

Between 2004 and 2006, Richard was involved in advising on planning issues at Coventry Airport, particularly with the proposed development of a passenger terminal for two million passengers annually, which was the subject of two major public inquiries, including the longest planning enforcement appeal in history.

Richard acted for Delancey (as developer) in promoting the Elephant & Castle town centre compulsory purchase order (CPO) in central London. The CPO was confirmed in January 2025 following a public inquiry. The CPO ensures this major regeneration project of almost 1,000 homes can be completed.

Richard recently advised on a successful judicial review action against the Secretary of State in connection with a caravan site in the New Forest National Park. He is currently advising on a judicial review claim to quash the revocation of a certificate of lawfulness at the same site.

Experience

  • GTAM Apex Lakeside Bidco acquires Lakeside Retail ParkJones Day advised GTAM Apex Lakeside Bidco Limited in the £114 million acquisition of Lakeside Retail Park from Landsec.
  • Elephant and Castle Properties Co. LimitedJones Day advised Elephant and Castle Properties Co. Limited in the compulsory purchase order to facilitate the redevelopment of Elephant & Castle in London.
  • Greystar secures 391 home BTR forward funding in Staines-Upon-ThamesJones Day advised Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC on its forward funding of Renshaw's Yard in Staines, a 391-home BTR development in Surrey, from Dandara Living. The transaction marks the latest in Greystar’s strong UK growth strategy.
  • Greystar acquires build-to-rent scheme in Stratford Mill, LondonJones Day advised Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC on its acquisition of a build-to-rent scheme in Stratford Mill, London.
  • Greystar acquires site for student accommodation development in Wembley ParkJones Day represented a fund sponsored by Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC in connection with the acquisition of a purpose-built student accommodation development site in Wembley Park, north London from Quintain.
  • Macquarie acquires Euston Solar FarmJones Day advised Macquarie in the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Euston Solar Farm Limited, a UK-based renewable energy developer focused primarily on the development of utility-scale solar plants.
  • Greystar acquires build-to-rent scheme in Bermondsey, LondonJones Day advised a joint venture partnership between Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), in its acquisition from Grosvenor of a landmark build-to-rent ("BTR") scheme in Bermondsey, London.
  • Sun Communities Inc. acquires Park Leisure 2000 Ltd.Jones Day advised Sun Communities, Inc. in the £186 million acquisition of Park Leisure 2000 Ltd. from Midlothian Capital Partners.
  • Macquarie Asset Management acquires 50% shareholding in Island Green PowerJones Day advised Macquarie Asset Management ("MAM"), via Macquarie Green Investment Group Renewable Energy Fund 2 ("MGREF2"), in its acquisition of 50% of the shares in Island Green Power Limited, a UK-based renewable energy developer focused primarily on the development of utility-scale solar plants.
  • Cain International provides £261.5 million development loan to Shinfield Studios to finance construction of film and television production facility in ReadingJones Day advised Cain International in connection with a £261.5 million development loan provided to Shinfield Studios to finance the construction of a film and television production facility in Reading.
  • Sun Communities acquires Park Holidays UK for $1.3 billionJones Day advised Sun Communities, Inc. on its acquisition of Park Holidays UK for approximately $1.3 billion.
  • Greystar acquires five high-quality UK assets for £388 millionJones Day advised Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC in the £388 million acquisition of four purpose built student accommodation ("PBSA") assets and one build-to-rent ("BTR") asset from Downing.
  • Greystar forms strategic partnership of up to £2.2 billion with ADIA to develop build-to-rent in London and acquires Fizzy Living for £400 millionJones Day represented Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC in connection with the formation of a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), targeting the acquisition and development of c.£2.2 billion of build-to-rent (BTR) assets in London, UK and surrounding commuter towns.
  • Ensign-Bickford Industries acquires Cawood Scientific LimitedJones Day advised Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. on its acquisition of Cawood Scientific Limited (Cawood).
  • MassMutual partners with Low Carbon to accelerate transition to renewable energyJones Day advised Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) on its debt and equity investment in Low Carbon Energy Holdings Limited (“Low Carbon”), a subsidiary of Low Carbon Limited, an established pan-European renewable energy developer and fund manager.
  • Entity advised by Henley Investment acquires Bedfont Lakes, New Square office parkJones Day represented an entity advised by Henley Investment Management Limited in connection with its acquisition of the Bedfont Lakes, New Square office park near Heathrow airport and the establishment of a joint venture with Sixth Street.
  • Pictet Alternative Advisers acquires three Grade II listed office buildings in ManchesterJones Day represented Pictet Alternative Advisers SA in connection with the £119 million acquisition of three Grade II listed office buildings in Manchester, United Kingdom from Helical Plc and continues to act on the acquisition financing with Helaba and establishment of a joint venture with XLB Property.
  • Greystar acquires £291 million portfolio of UK student accommodations from Nido portfolioJones Day represented Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC in the £291 million acquisition of five purpose-built student accommodation ("PBSA") assets from the Nido portfolio.
  • Henley Investments acquires Regent Retail Park in Salford, EnglandJones Day advised Henley Investment Management Limited in its £16 million acquisition of Regent Retail Park, a 116,000 sq. ft. retail park in Salford, England.
  • Goldman sold iQ Student Accommodation dorms to Blackstone for £4.66 billionOn May 15, 2020, Jones Day clients Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division and the Wellcome Trust completed the sale of iQ Student Accommodation to Blackstone for £4.66 billion (US$5.73 billion), representing the largest ever private real estate transaction in the UK.
    • View All

    JUNE 2025 Commentary

    London Leads in Affordable PBSA: What's Next for the Rest of England?

    February 2025 Commentary

    Elephant and Castle Town Centre Redevelopment: Compulsory Purchase Order Confirmed

    July 2024 Commentary

    UK Supreme Court Quashes Planning Permission Due to a Failure to Consider Downstream (Scope 3) Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    April 2024 Commentary

    New Second Staircase Requirement for Tall Residential Buildings in England

    February 2024 Commentary

    Biodiversity Net Gain: A New Requirement for Developments in England to Positively Impact the Environment

    January 2024 Commentary

    UK's Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023: Key Changes to the Planning System

    April 2013 Jones Day Publications

    Real Estate Intelligence

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