Contact Edward
Edward Worthy acts for landed estates and owner managed farm businesses, dealing responsively but methodically with a wide range of rural issues.
Edward Worthy’s work includes land registration, the development of farm land and reserving development value, solar and battery options, biodiversity net gain off site agreements, mineral extraction/recycling/landfill development, agricultural tenancies, footpaths and public access issues (including coastal access), utility easements and other rural freehold and leasehold work.
Edward participates enthusiastically in farming organisations, including the CLA, where he has served on the National Legal, Parliamentary and Property Rights Committee.
From an agricultural practice in Suffolk, Edward moved to Gepp Solicitors in Chelmsford 2005, becoming the Head of the Agriculture & Estates Team. Now a member of Excello Law’s national Agriculture & Estates Team, Edward Worthy is delighted to be able to advise clients in the Eastern Region and further afield, with his connections in the Home Counties and the South West.
Edward's Experience
Negotiation of a strategic land option and promotion agreement covering circa 250 acres with an aggregate minimum price threshold of £62.5M. Detailed title issues were resolved, and the necessary HM Land Registry applications were completed to meet the Developer’s requirements. The matter also involved a complex overage provision reserving an element of the future development value of the site to the clients. Provisions were negotiated in anticipation of the land being sold in tranches and developed whilst part of the site remained unsold, to protect the clients from liability under the whole site S.106 Agreement and the related planning permission conditions. A number of complex tax issues were mitigated via the drafting of the Agreement with the necessary advice from the clients’ accountants.
Acting in relation to a rural site where mineral extraction had been completed. Negotiation of an option granted to a recycling and landfill operator and the related lease. The lease contained a detailed royalty payment structure. The lease also provided for a remediation bond arrangement as security for the return of the quarry to agricultural land, with a view to possible residential development.
Restructuring a large landed estate title in line with the clients’ tax planning advice. The matter involved analysis of a portfolio of titles and the ‘on the ground’ land use to create separate parcels of land, which were transferred to a serious of limited liability partnerships. The transfers also involved negotiation with a mortgagee in relation to some parts of the estate and close liaison with the clients’ tax advisers.
Advising a landowner who had been approached by a governmental agency to provide biodiversity net gain credits to facilitate infrastructure development, where the credits could not be generated on the development site. Negotiating legal aspects of heads of terms, option agreement and form of conservation covenant. The matter involved drafting several documents from scratch to reflect new legislation in this area.
The client needed to lodge an objection to a claimed public right of way which was due to be routed through a sensitive part of the diversified farm business. The background to the claim was investigated and Counsel’s advice was obtained on certain aspects of the matter before a comprehensive objection was submitted to the relevant local authority on the client’s behalf. The local authority decided to adjourn the claim to obtain further information in relation to certain parts of the case. The claim is now unlikely to progress any further and the client’s diversified farm business and its numerous revenue streams were preserved.
Edward enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys, sailing in the waters around the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall and skiing in the Western part of Norway. Edward is a Rugby Union fan and supports London Irish RFC.
2023 to present:
External Consultant to Gepp Solicitors (Agriculture & Estates)
2014 to 2023:
Member of the Essex Committee of the Country Land and Business Association.
2012 to present:
Member of the Council of Essex Agricultural Society.
2015 to 2017:
Vice Chairman of Essex Agricultural Society.
2014 to 2019:
Member of National Legal, Parliamentary and Property Rights Committee, Country Land and Business Association, Belgrave Square, London.
2017 to 2019:
Chairman of Essex Agricultural Society.