Land Referencing 
Asset due diligence 
Planning and Environmental 
Land Assembly 
Valuation & Professional Services 
Compulsory Purchase Advice 
Business Case Development 
Funding Models and Value Capture 
Rail Industry Agreements 
Local Government 
Highways & Active Travel 
Renewables 
Healthcare 
Utilities 
Rail & Mass Transit 
Rail-adjacent residential development
The challenge
A developer was progressing a phased residential scheme comprising 395 apartments in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, located immediately adjacent to Jewellery Quarter railway station. The scheme also proposed a new access to the station, introducing additional regulatory, commercial and operational considerations associated with building next to an operational railway.
As is common with rail-adjacent developments, issues arose around additional payments and requirements sought by Network Rail, alongside the need to navigate Station Change processes and evolving rail industry policy. These matters had the potential to materially impact scheme viability, programme and development appraisals.
What we did
We were appointed to advise the developer on navigating the commercial and regulatory complexities of developing next to the railway, with a focus on protecting viability while maintaining constructive engagement with the rail industry.
Our role included:
- Providing valuation advisory services to support Shared Value and commercial negotiations with Network Rail
- Reviewing the grounds of claim and assessing how they aligned with the evolution and design of the development
- Developing a clear, evidence-led negotiation strategy, articulating the benefits of the scheme to the rail industry and station users
- Advising the developer on the impact of additional rail-related payments on development appraisals and scheme viability
- Supporting the developer in understanding wider rail regulatory requirements, including Station Change processes
- Drawing on expertise across the wider SLC Group, including input from engineering specialists to assess how design changes could address rail industry concerns
Why it worked
- Developer-focused advice: Commercial and valuation input was aligned directly with development appraisals and viability considerations
- Clear negotiation narrative: A robust explanation of shared benefits helped reframe discussions with the rail industry
- Integrated rail expertise: Combining property, valuation and engineering advice enabled informed decisions on design and mitigation options
- Adaptive approach: Ongoing changes within the rail industry were proactively managed through flexible negotiation strategies
- Risk management: Early advice on regulatory and commercial exposure reduced uncertainty around cost and programme
By combining commercial insight with deep rail-sector knowledge, we helped the developer navigate the challenges of building next to the railway, protecting scheme viability while facilitating improved station access and long-term placemaking benefits.
