Our mission is to turn the complexities of land into opportunities for its future.
Continually building trusted relationships with landowners, developers, and consultants, working together to tackle challenges that stand in the way of successful outcomes.
Our story
Early in our journey in land development, we saw the need for a structured, reliable way to assess a site’s development potential—one that focused on real opportunities within a clear timeframe. The complexity of navigating hundreds of checks and variables often meant that progress was hindered, and opportunities were missed. To bridge this gap, we began carefully documenting our work across live projects.

Over the years, through hands-on experience and tackling challenges on complex sites, we developed a practical and efficient process for assessing land. Our methodology is built on lessons learned and refined through addressing real-world constraints, ensuring a complete understanding of each site’s possibilities and outcomes.

By refining this approach over time, we’ve created a system that turns complexity into clarity. This system helps landowners and developers navigate challenges, giving them the confidence to unlock their land’s full potential.
Our team
Jamie Unsworth
Director
Vicky Unsworth
Accountant
Baillie Unsworth
Business Operations Manager
James Ashworth
Land Analyst
Tom Hopley
Junior Business Management
Ian Robinson
Chief Product and Technology Officer
Built on knowledge & collaboration
At Cornell, our values are deeply rooted in our commitment to learning and sharing our hard-earned knowledge to benefit others. With two decades of documenting processes and refining our approach with land, we believe in the importance of thoroughness and collaboration.

Our goal is not just to improve our own work but to contribute positively to the broader land ownership and development community; by offering insights that help others avoid common pitfalls. We value the pursuit of better solutions, always striving to set a higher standard in everything we do.
From those we've helped
“Having chosen the Cornell group for the disposal of our works and property we are pleased to say it was the right choice as they have been very helpful with any queries we had and they are very helpful, informative, and accessible at any time for professional advice”
Harry Sanders
Land Owner
“We partnered up with Cornell Group to unlock potential opportunities within our land boundaries. Three sites were identified, one being a liability for the club. Cornell provided a development solution that resolved the liability, initial capital and potential uplift for the club in the future.”
Bury Golf Club
Land Owner
“My experience has spanned over a number of years. Cornell has worked with focus and determination on a complex situation to achieve the required result. Calmness but relentlessness throughout the entire process, a necessary attribute in their line of business”
Lynne Bentham
Land Owner
“We have been working with Jamie and the team at Cornell for many years now and have always found them to be totally professional, knowledgeable and understanding of the clients requirements throughout each and every project we have given them. I have no doubt that our business relationship will be there for many many more years to come.”
Entwistle Family Investments Ltd
Land Owner
“In my previous role at Bolton Council I worked with Jamie Unsworth and the Cornell Group in helping two sites which were complex land ownership issues and was also contentious through the planning process requiring collaborative work from all parties to ensure the scheme was delivered successfully.”
Paul Philbin
Ex Bolton Council
“Cornell spent over 4 years ‘information gathering’ and de-risking issues such as site constraints and numerous challenges to establish a workable proposal and design culminating with the submission of the successful planning application. This approach undoubtedly helped to achieve the broadly positive outcome for all stakeholders involved and the Council look forward to the completion of the development.”
Adrian Robertshaw
Strategic Housing at Doncaster Council
“We have worked alongside Cornell Group on a few complex sites, throughout each one,  they have applied the correct due diligence on managing risk and provided development solutions to enable a successful outcome.”
Peter Bojar
Developer at Great Places
“I have worked with Cornell Group over years where they have helped un-lock complex land issues to enable development opportunities for my clients.”
Wesley Seale
Director at Maine Wealth Ltd
(Professional Financial Planning)
“Cornell’s project management and due diligence approach to manage risk, address issues arising, and to carefully explain these risks and potential solutions, as well as liaising closely with a range of council officers including myself has helped to provide a development solution which may not otherwise have come about . Plans are now afoot to develop the site with the joint partner. I look forward to the site being developed; Cornell’s input has been instrumental in getting the site to this point.”
James Hinchcliffe
Housing Commissioning Manager at Kirklees Council
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