Project overview
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust required support to identify, assess and acquire multiple freehold properties within a compressed timeframe to meet year-end funding deadlines. The acquisitions were critical to the Trust’s wider estate strategy, supporting service decant programmes, future expansion plans and the continued delivery of healthcare services across Somerset.
Archus provided end-to-end property advisory support throughout the acquisition process, helping the Trust navigate complex commercial, legal and compliance requirements while maintaining pace and governance assurance. Working closely with Trust stakeholders, we undertook rapid market searches, property inspections and comparable evidence reviews to identify and shortlist suitable assets. Structured negotiations were then carried out to secure favourable terms and progress acquisitions efficiently.
To ensure robust decision-making, we commissioned and managed full building surveys, coordinated independent market valuations through the District Valuer and oversaw comprehensive legal due diligence. Findings relating to condition, compliance and capital expenditure requirements were incorporated into acquisition recommendations, enabling risks to be understood and managed effectively.
Alongside transaction management, Archus produced board-ready reports and governance documentation, ensuring compliance with NHS Estate Code requirements and supporting internal approvals. By aligning multiple acquisitions to strict financial year deadlines, we helped the Trust secure strategically important assets while maintaining confidence in value for money, regulatory compliance and long-term investment decisions.
Outcomes
- Successfully delivered all due diligence and acquisition documentation required to support multiple property purchases.
- Enabled acquisitions to complete within financial year deadlines, supporting wider estate and service transformation plans.
- Provided robust governance assurance through independent valuation, compliance assessments and legal due diligence.
The challenge
The Trust needed to acquire multiple freehold properties at pace while maintaining full compliance with NHS governance requirements. The acquisitions were required to support operational pressures on acute sites and unlock opportunities for service relocation and expansion within community settings.
Alongside the need for speed, the Trust required confidence that each acquisition represented value for money and that planning, compliance, condition and legal risks had been properly assessed. All activity needed to be completed within strict funding windows tied to the financial year-end.
The solution
Archus managed the acquisition process from initial property identification through to completion. We undertook market searches, site inspections and comparable evidence reviews before negotiating heads of terms for preferred properties.
We commissioned and coordinated building surveys, managed District Valuer market value assessments and instructed legal advisers to undertake comprehensive due diligence, searches and conveyancing activities. Throughout the programme, we maintained oversight of risk, documentation and governance requirements, producing board-ready reports that presented clear recommendations and assurance for decision-makers.
The impact
The programme enabled Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to complete multiple strategic acquisitions efficiently and with confidence. Comprehensive due diligence reduced transactional risk, while independent valuations and governance documentation provided assurance that acquisitions represented appropriate value for money.
The acquired properties supported key service decant and expansion plans across locations including Yeovil, Taunton and Wells, helping to strengthen the Trust’s estate portfolio and support future healthcare delivery objectives. The success of the programme also established a strong foundation for an ongoing advisory relationship, with Archus continuing to support wider property and lease management initiatives across the Trust’s estate.
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