We have thirteen full-time planning lawyers and three qualified town planners who run the contentious planning work. Four of these are nationally acknowledged as ‘leaders in their field.’ Three are members of the Law Society’s Specialist Planning Panel and two are national assessors for this panel.

We act for developers, landowners, public authorities, higher and further education establishments and statutory agencies such as the Environment Agency.

Although we are principally engaged in the promotion of development schemes we are frequently retained by local planning authorities to advise in relation to the local development framework process, including modification and adoption of development plans, and where necessary, challenges in the High Court to the adoption of development plans.

We are frequently retained to make applications to the High Court for the Judicial Review of decisions of public bodies, and under Sections 287 and 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in relation to planning appeal decisions and development plan adoption.

The practice’s involvement in high profile judicial decisions regularly shapes and influences planning practice throughout the country.

We have eight property lawyers who deal with all aspects of property development including strategic land assembly, joint ventures and consortia arrangements, options, and the acquisition, development, letting and disposal of office, retail, industrial and residential sites.

This team acts for national house developers, privately owned developers and property companies, landowners and public authorities.

We undertake specialist development work to support the promotion of future development opportunities, major infrastructure projects, and the acquisition and disposal of substantial development schemes. We also use our experience to provide an effective and efficient service to local developers.

We regularly advise clients on the preparation of environmental statements and the management of environmental risks and liabilities, whether they are buying or selling property, conducting activities requiring an environmental licence or permit, dealing with pollution to land, air, water or regulatory/ enforcement action.

We are also retained by local authorities and other regulatory bodies to advise on a variety of environmental protection measures such as under the pollution prevention and control (PPC), waste management or contaminated land regimes, statutory, public or private nuisances.

We provide commercial services to clients who place a value on a very personal service. We are active in the acquisition and disposal of interests in businesses. We also provide on-going commercial support to management teams, across a broad range of issues, including trading agreements, employment advice, licensing, contractual disputes and debt collection.

We undertake a range of commercial conveyancing for local and national businesses including sales and acquisitions, leasehold work, commercial lending and security arrangements.

The practice also provides advisory work and litigation services in connection with boundary disputes, restrictive covenants, rights of way and other property related matters.

We undertake all aspects of work relating to licensing of the sale or supply of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment and late night refreshment under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003, including applications to local authorities for personal and premises licenses.

Planning Consultancy

Our Chartered Town Planners provide a wide range of planning consultancy services in respect of all forms of development and allied to the preparation and submission of planning applications and appeals, the commissioning and supervision of Environmental Statements, negotiations with local planning authorities and representations to Local Development Frameworks. They co-ordinate and lead the preparation of cases presented at planning appeals and present expert evidence at public inquiries.

They act for property developers, landowners and local authorities and undertake planning studies to inform and support development proposals and carry out planning appraisals to assess development potential, opportunities and constraints.

The planning practice undertakes research to aid the formulation of planning policies and strategies and to assist local planning authorities in assembling the evidence base underlying the preparation of Local Development Documents.

The scope of our services

We provide advice on all aspects of Town Planning, land and building development and the provision of roads and infrastructure. This includes:

We undertake a full range of legal services associated with our core activities: