We are widely recognised for our strength in the planning sphere, with the team ranked as a leading practice by Legal 500 and lead partner Mark Harnett consistently recognised as a leading practitioner by Chambers & Partners.
We work with residential and mixed-use developers and significant capital providers, often including inbound investors and family offices, alongside major players in the hotels and leisure sector.
Our planning experience includes:
- Complex applications: we are particularly noted for guiding clients through complex planning applications, including carrying out legal audits of draft application documentation, drafting collaboration agreements for developments of parcels within a larger development site and providing strategic advice throughout.
- Infrastructure Agreements: we have in depth experience advising on section 106 agreements and other infrastructure agreements.
- Contentious Planning: we have a strong track record in contentious work, including appeals against refusal of planning permission, listed building consent and enforcement action, and Judicial Review and Statutory Review claims in respect of planning decisions, including in the Supreme Court.
- Heritage: we are recognised by the market for our handling of complex planning matters relating to developments affecting listed buildings.
- Enforcement matters: we regularly advise on appeals against enforcement notices and the defence of prosecutions.
- Community Infrastructure Levy: our work includes advising on how to avoid or minimise liability.
- Lawful Development Certificates: we regularly advise clients on applications for Certificates of Lawful Existing Use and Development and Certificates of Proposed Lawful Development
Our work also extends to associated development matters, such as rights to light, environmental issues and compulsory purchase. We often advise:
- Developers on managing rights to light risks through title audits, deeds of release and insurance as well as to adjoining owners on claims for an injunction or compensation.
- On liability associated with ownership or development of contaminated land, permitting matters, public nuisance and water pollution.
- On seeking compulsory purchase orders and pursuing compensation claims, as well as on applications for Certificates of Appropriate Alternative Development and references to the Upper Tribunal (Lands).
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