NEWCASTLE law firm Ward Hadaway has advised on one of the North’s most significant property deals this year.

Lawyers from the firm advised property group Allied London on its acquisition of the Clarence Dock mixed-use development in Leeds.

The transaction sees Allied London acquire the 150-year head lease on the 1.2m sq ft Clarence Dock scheme from Lend Lease.

Clarence Dock officially opened in October 2008 and is one of the largest developments of its kind to be built in the North over the past decade.

The mixed-use scheme is home to 35 retail and restaurant units, 100,000 sq ft of grade A office space and over 1,100 luxury apartments.

The area also has the Royal Armouries Museum and Saviles Conference Hall, the largest in Leeds.

Judy Fawcett and Brian Green led Ward Hadaway’s team advising on the acquisition of the lease, which was bought for an undisclosed sum.

Ms Fawcett said: “Allied London has a terrific track record on major developments in urban centres and I am sure it will breathe new life into Clarence Dock.”

Allied London has delivered a range of landmark property schemes across Britain over the last decade.

In the North, it is probably best known for developing the upmarket Spinningfields development in Manchester, a 22-acre scheme which has delivered a major new business quarter for the city and has been dubbed Manchester’s answer to Canary Wharf.

As part of the Clarence Dock deal, Allied London will pay ground rent to the development’s landlord, British Waterways, as well as service charges and other fees.

Ward Hadaway has previously advised Allied London on a range of other matters, including the £18.6m sale of The Avenue at Spinningfields in October 2010.