Overview

We provide the highest quality skills and expertise for planning inquiries across a range of sectors. Unlike many of our national competitors, we do a lot of our own planning advocacy. Given the demands advocacy brings, this encourages a high level of trust between us and our clients. 

Our lawyers work closely with clients to understand their business objectives and understand that although planning inquiries have a common procedure, there will be unique challenges that arise from each individual project that we advise upon. Our advice includes anticipation of risk of challenge through High Court appeals following planning inquiries.

We are experienced in providing planning advocacy that requires advice from a multi-disciplinary team of experts. We work regularly with specialist lawyers from our planning, real estate, construction and environmental teams. We also advise regularly and provide advocacy for related consent regimes in addition to planning inquiries.

Our team includes advocates with Higher Court Rights of Audience who are members of the Solicitors' Association of Higher Court Advocates (SAHCA).  

Areas of focus

We have an established reputation for providing a high standard of planning advocacy in: 

  • Renewables.
  • Minerals .
  • Mixed-use developments.
  • Compulsory purchase and compensation.
  • Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).
  • Common land.
 
Experience

Representing the developer at a conjoined inquiry relating to five s36 consents and a s37 consent under the Electricity Act 1989 for onshore wind farms and an overhead electric line in Mid Wales.

Representing developers at the Planning Act hearings for the Greater Gabbard and Kentish Flats offshore wind farms and the A19/A1058 Coast Road Scheme nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Promotion of Compulsory Purchase Orders at public inquiry and assessment of disputed compensation in the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal.

Revision of the bridge tolls for the Clifton Suspension Bridge Public Inquiry.

High Court advocacy in relation to a challenge to entitlement to compensation for sterilisation of minerals following pipeline development.

Representing both developers at the two most significant onshore wind farm inquiries post June 2015 following the introduction of the requirement to demonstrate local community backing.

Meet the team
Patrick Robinson

Patrick Robinson Consultant

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Planning and Compulsory Purchase
Julian Boswall

Julian Boswall Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Planning and Compulsory Purchase
Elizabeth Dunn

Elizabeth Dunn Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Real Estate
Gary Soloman

Gary Soloman Partner

  • Head of Planning and Compulsory Purchase
  • Regeneration and Highways
  • Compulsory Purchase and Compensation
Craig Whelton

Craig Whelton Partner

  • Scottish Planning 
  • Energy and Utilities 
  • Compulsory Purchase and Compensation

What others say...

…they are attuned to the needs of the business and are approachable, helpful, friendly and supportive. This collaborative approach is invaluable.

Legal 500 UK 2022

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