Jon Smart

Recent Work

Jon is a senior partner in our national real estate team with 30 years experience. Example current work includes

• Scotch Corner Designer Village – Scotch Corner Designer Village will be the leading designer outlet-shopping destination in the North of England. The 50 acres Phase 1 is the 80-unit designer outlet together with the biggest home and garden centre in the country already pre-let to Blue Diamond. It will be the principal outlet destination in the north of England. Due to open Autumn 2024.  Exchanged retailers for the outlet include Hugo Boss, Castore, Gant, Dune, Wagamama and many others.

Further phases are in the planning process. At full maturity it will be the third largest outlet in the UK.

Construction started in 2023 and is well underway. On complimentary phases to the south there are proposed film /TV studio production hub and an advanced manufacturing facility (proposed for Rolls Royce) and drive-through restaurants. 

Our team led by Jon is acting for the landowner/ developer on all aspects, including real estate, pre-lettings, infrastructure, funding and construction, land acquisition (via options and JV agreements). 

• Former RAF Newton and RAF Kemble- Acting for landowner on all aspects including promotion, residential land sales, (including site for 550 houses to Redrow), village centre and community facilities on 180 acres and continued commercial development, portfolio management and further development strategy, infrastructure agreements and lettings of large storage hangars, funding rounds and portfolio work for the rest these large commercial estates.
• Acting for landowner/seller on multi conditional strategic land sale for build to rent and other residential on prominent riverside regeneration site on the banks of the River Trent opposite the world famous City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest.

Jon conducts numerous development transactions both for property developers and end-user owner occupiers and tenants.

Recent Work

• Scotch Corner Designer Village - Scotch Corner Designer Village will be the leading designer outlet-shopping destination in the North of England. The 50 acres Phase 1 is the 80-unit designer outlet together with the biggest home and garden centre in the country already pre-let to Blue Diamond. It will be the principle outlet destination in the North of England. Due to open Autumn 2024. Exchanged retailers for the outlet include Hugo Boss, Castore, Gant, Dune Wagamama and many others.
  
  Further phases are in the planning process. At full maturity it will be the third largest outlet in the UK. Construction started in 2023 and is well underway. On Complimentary phases to the South there are propsed film/TV studio production hub and an advanced manufacturing facility (proposed for Rolls Royce) and drive-through restaurants.
  
  Our team led by Jon, is acting for the landowner/developer on all aspects, including real estate, pre-lettings, infrastructure, funding and construction, land acquisition (via options and JV agreements).
  
  
• New facilities for logistics client CH Robinson

Jon is lead client partner for Allica Bank, a multi-award-winning challenger bank servicing the small/medium enterprise sector and property investors and which was ranked the number one fastest growing technology company in the UK in Deloitte’s 2023 UK Fast 50 technology awards and listed by the Times newspaper as one of the UK’s Top 20 fintech companies. He is also client partner for Redwood Bank and acts for Lloyds Bank.

Recent Work

• Acting for Waterfield group on various refinancing and new facilities for all group entities to support a portfolio of circa £100,000,000 and in particular the development and construction finance for Scotch Corner Designer Village.
• Leading a multi office, multi-disciplinary team on around 400 lending deals in 2 years for rapidly expanding client Allica Bank.

Jon has always enjoyed working for an impressive occupier client base including Raleigh, CH Robinson Logistics, AF Switchgear and Seafrigo . Work has included development and acquisition of new build HQ premises and major expansions. Jon can guide his clients through complex processes.

Recent Work

• Acquisition of UK business and sites for global refrigerated logistics company Seafrigo
• New warehouse/office development in Derby and London for CH Robinson