PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

When you have plans to develop your land, you may be eager to start building as quickly as possible. You might also be apprehensive about securing the necessary planning permission in the first place. This vital consent from the local authority will ensure your development isn’t put on hold or stopped all together. With an ever-evolving planning system, this area of law is increasingly complex, which is why legal advice can make your application process much easier.

KEY CONTACTS

Fred Quartermain

Partner 0117 930 9572

Rosalyn Trotman

Partner 0117 930 9577

Lorraine Neve

Senior Associate 0117 374 9639

Rebecca Stanton

Associate 0117 930 9550

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING SUPPORT

You may be in the initial stages of seeking permission and need advice on potential contentious issues. Perhaps you are concerned that your plans could pose risks to the environment or you could have your application declined and need guidance on how to proceed next. Or further down the line, you may need to secure infrastructure and highway agreements, or your finished build could come under planning scrutiny.

You may be a neighbour impacted by development proposals, wanting to ensure that your concerns are properly considered.

With in-depth knowledge of the complex local and national policy and legislation surrounding the planning system, our legal experts can guide you through any obstructions to your development proposals. Working collaboratively with planning consultants, land agents and architects, we will suggest practical recommendations based on your commercial objectives.

Our Planning Team has been involved in a number of high-profile cases in this area. Highlights include:

  • Drafting and negotiation of complex section 106 agreements on behalf of Eastleigh Borough Council to secure planning permission for their Horton Heath strategic development project including advising on numerous planning matters surrounding this key urban extension;
  • Settling a section 106 agreement in relation 111 zero and low carbon homes for a south west developer;
  • Advising a commercial developer on planning matters arising from sale of part of a development site to a multi-national company including a proposed drop-in permission;
  • Successfully defending an enforcement appeal against an allegation of minerals, mining and waste works as part of a mixed use including the creation of a leisure facility for fishing in Northamptonshire;
  • Advising on statutory review of an Inspector’s appeal decision in the High Court in relation to the proper approach to heritage balance under the NPPF;
  • Securing a substantial reduction (circa £150,000) in Community Infrastructure Levy payments through advising on the proper interpretation of “in-use buildings” under the CIL Regulations;
  • Advising local landowner clients in relation to objection to both Planning and Compulsory Purchase aspects of the proposed Didcot to Abingdon strategic road network improvement scheme;
  • Aspects of the proposed Didcot to Abingdon strategic road network improvement scheme.

Our expertise in this area encompasses:

  • Rural planning and diversification
  • Environment
  • Licensing 
  • Development of Land
  • Advising on Planning Contravention Notices, Breach of Condition Notices and Stop Notices
  • Advocacy – Public Inquiries, Hearings, Magistrates’ Court
  • Appeals against enforcement notices
  • Appeals against the refusal/non-determination of planning applications
  • Assets of community value, Local Green Space Designations and Town and Village Greens
  • Certificates of lawfulness applications
  • Community Infrastructure Levy
  • Compulsory purchase
  • Defending planning prosecutions
  • EIA development
  • High Court challenges – statutory review and judicial review
  • Listed buildings consent, heritage assets and conservation areas
  • Permitted development rights and prior approval regime
  • Planning and environment due diligence in property transactions
  • Planning objections
  • Section 106 agreements and infrastructure agreements
  • Waste and renewable energy, including wind, hydroelectricity and AD


CONTACT

ALEX MADDEN ATTRACTS PRAISE FROM BOTH PEERS AND CLIENTS FOR HIS PLANNING WORK. AN IMPRESSED INTERVIEWEE SAYS: ‘HE IS A REAL MASTER OF HIS TRADE IN PLANNING LAW. HE IS DEFINITELY PREPARED TO GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR CLIENTS. CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS 2016

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