The national law firm, Stephensons, is celebrating 6 years of successful collaboration with Great Places Housing Group, marked by the completion of the latest phase of the Heath Farm development in Partington, Greater Manchester.
Since 2019, Stephensons has provided expert legal support to Great Places across a diverse range of projects under its Legal Services Framework, including land acquisition and conveyancing for numerous residential developments.
The framework places a strong emphasis on social value, with panel firms like Stephensons actively contributing to initiatives that benefit Great Places’ customers, such as supporting food pantries and organising activities at community centres.
The Heath Farm scheme delivers 126 much-needed two, three and four-bedroom homes, 26 of which have been delivered for Great Places as affordable housing.
The completion of Heath Farm adds to Stephensons’ expanding portfolio of work with Great Places and other social housing providers across the North West and beyond.
“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate six years of working alongside Great Places,” said David Baybut, Partner and Chairman at Stephensons. “Over the past six years, we’ve had the privilege of supporting their vital work in delivering affordable, high-quality homes that help transform communities. The impact of these developments, like Heath Farm, goes far beyond bricks and mortar - they help build stronger, more inclusive neighbourhoods. We look forward to continuing to support Great Places for many years to come.”
Nick Gornall, Director of Development at Great Places, added:
“We’re delighted to mark this milestone with Stephensons, whose support has been instrumental in advancing our affordable housing development programme over the past few years. The Heath Farm development is one of many schemes Stephensons has advised Great Places on. Other schemes include multiple phases of land acquisitions over multiple years at Foxdenton, Oldham, where Stephensons have provided a consistent high quality service through retained corporate knowledge about the area. The power of partnerships and a shared commitment to social value is not just building homes but creating vibrant sustainable communities where people can thrive. We look forward to continuing our work with Stephensons.”
About Stephensons Solicitors LLP
Stephensons Solicitors LLP is a full-service law firm with a national reach and a strong local presence. With offices across the North West and in London, Stephensons provides expert legal advice and representation to individuals and businesses. Founded on a commitment to accessibility and client care, Stephensons is recognised for its innovative approach to legal services and its dedication to achieving the best possible outcomes for clients.
About Great Places
Social purpose is at the heart of Great Places Housing Group. A not-for-profit organisation, Great Places owns over 26,000 affordable homes in more than 30 local authority areas across the North West and South Yorkshire. In 2024/25 Great Places delivered 726 new affordable homes and sold 196 homes for shared ownership. It invested over £230 million into building new homes as well as running a wide range of projects and initiatives to help our customers and their communities (www.greatplaces.org.uk ). It currently has over 2,300 homes on site.
Image: David Baybut, (L), Nick Gornall (R) and one of the properties at the Heath Farm development in Partington