Partner With UrbanVale
Stay involved and share in the outcome
Not every landowner wants to sell. If you want to stay connected to your land and share in the value that development can create, UrbanVale is experienced in joint venture arrangements and development agreements that give landowners a meaningful stake in the outcome.
All conversations are confidential and carry no obligation.
There is more than one way to work with a developer
Many landowners assume that working with a developer means selling their land and stepping away. That is one option – but it is not the only one.
For landowners who believe their land has genuine development potential and want to share in that value rather than transfer it entirely to a developer at the point of sale, a partnership structure can be a more attractive path. Instead of selling at a fixed price before the development potential is fully realised, the landowner remains a participant in the project and shares in the proceeds as it progresses.
UrbanVale is experienced in structuring these arrangements. We work with landowners to find the right structure for each situation – one that reflects the landowner’s goals, the characteristics of the site, and the commercial realities of the opportunity.
Understanding the structures
The two most common partnership structures in land development are joint ventures and development agreements. They work differently and suit different situations.
Joint venture
In a joint venture, the landowner and developer work together as partners. The landowner contributes the land, while the developer contributes expertise, management, and often capital. Profits from the development – after costs – are shared according to an agreed split.
A joint venture gives the landowner a direct share of the upside. It also means carrying some of the development risk alongside the developer, with the final return not known until the project is complete and lots are sold.
Development agreement
A development agreement is a contractual arrangement under which the developer takes responsibility for developing the land, with the landowner receiving an agreed return – which may be a fixed sum, a per-lot payment, a share of revenue, or another structure – in exchange for granting the developer the right to proceed.
Development agreements can take many forms and can be structured to give the landowner more certainty about their return while still allowing them to benefit from the development value of the site. They are often used where the landowner wants a more defined outcome rather than the open-ended upside and risk of a full joint venture.
Which is right for you?
The right structure depends on the landowner’s goals, their appetite for risk and uncertainty, their timeline, and the characteristics of the site. There is no universal answer. In our experience, the best outcomes come from having an honest conversation about what each party actually wants before any structure is decided.
UrbanVale will take the time to explain both options clearly and help landowners understand what each would mean for their specific situation – before any decisions are made.
What a partnership with UrbanVale looks like
We do not have a standard template that we apply to every landowner. We assess each site and each situation individually, and we work to find a structure that makes commercial sense for the development while giving the landowner a fair and transparent participation in the outcome.
In practice, a partnership with UrbanVale typically involves us taking responsibility for the full development process – site assessment and feasibility, planning strategy and approvals, consultant coordination, finance coordination, construction and delivery oversight, and sales and marketing. The landowner’s role is to contribute the land and, depending on the structure, to remain informed and involved at key decision points throughout.
We believe landowners in a partnership should understand what is happening with their land at every stage. We keep our partners informed, we are honest about challenges when they arise, and we manage the process with the same discipline and care we would apply to our own capital/land.
What we bring to a partnership
- Choosing the right development partner matters enormously in a joint venture or development agreement. The landowner is entrusting their asset to the developer's capability and judgment for the life of the project. That deserves careful consideration.
- Our directors bring more than 25 years of hands-on land development experience, including over 100 developments managed in consultancy roles and a current and previous pipeline as developers of just under 1,000 residential lots across Victoria.
- Our in-house capability across feasibility, urban design, planning, and development management means we assess opportunities quickly, manage the process carefully, and make decisions with real technical understanding - rather than outsourcing the thinking to external consultants.
- Our consultant network includes some of the best development specialists in Victoria across planning, engineering, legal, accounting, sales, marketing, and delivery - people with deep experience at state and local level who have worked on some of Victoria's most significant land development projects.
- And our values - integrity, honesty, and rising together - are not a marketing statement. They reflect how we actually approach the relationships we enter into, including those with landowners who have trusted us with their land.
What to know before entering a partnership
Partnership arrangements in land development are significant legal and financial commitments. We believe every landowner considering one should go into the process well informed and properly advised.
Get independent legal advice A joint venture or development agreement is a legally binding contract. Before signing anything, every landowner should have their own solicitor review the terms – ideally one with experience in property law. This protects the landowner’s interests and ensures they fully understand what they are committing to.
Understand the timeline Land development takes time – often longer than expected. Planning processes, market conditions, and construction timelines all affect how long a project takes from start to settlement. Landowners should go in with a realistic view of the timeframe and with their own financial situation able to accommodate it.
Understand how returns are calculated Whether the structure involves a profit share, a per-lot payment, or another arrangement, landowners should understand clearly how their return is calculated, when it is paid, and what costs are deducted before it is calculated. These details matter and should be clearly documented in any agreement.
Ask questions A good development partner will welcome questions and answer them clearly. If a developer is reluctant to explain how a structure works or is vague about the details, that is worth paying attention to.
UrbanVale welcomes these conversations. We would rather a landowner take their time, get proper advice, and enter a partnership with full confidence than feel rushed or uncertain about what they have agreed to.
Not sure whether to sell or partner?
Some landowners arrive at this page already knowing they want a partnership arrangement. Others are weighing it up against a straightforward sale and trying to work out which option makes more sense.
- The honest answer is that it depends - on the site, the landowner's financial situation, their appetite for a longer timeline, and what they ultimately want to achieve.
- If you are still working through that decision, the best first step is a conversation. We can talk through both options honestly, explain what each would likely look like for your specific land, and give you the information you need to make the right decision.
- There is no obligation and no pressure. The right outcome for the landowner is the right outcome for UrbanVale too.
Start the conversation
If you own land in Victoria or interstate and want to explore whether a joint venture or development agreement might be the right path, UrbanVale welcomes a confidential conversation.
We will take the time to understand your situation, explain your options clearly, and give you a straight answer about whether your land may suit a partnership with us.
Call: 03 9007 2418