Birketts LLP has an 'innovative and creative' planning and environmental law group that has a stellar client base of national and regional housebuilders, local authorities, and private businesses in sectors such as agriculture, waste, chemicals, minerals, and transport, as well as infrastructure clients including Northumbrian Water. Tom Newcombe in Cambridge (who 'always has a practical solution to any issue') and the 'always attentive and professional' Deborah Sharples in Ipswich are the lead partners. Legal directors Nicola Doole and Nikki Fonseka, and senior associate Chloe Glason are also active in the practice. Fonseka handles planning obligations and planning enforcement matters, while Doole has vast experience in negotiating complex section 106 agreements.
Planning and environment in East Anglia
Birketts LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Tom Newcombe; Deborah Sharples
Autres avocats clés:
Nicola Doole; Nikki Fonseka; Chloe Glason
Les références
‘Tom Newcombe is my ‘go to’ planning lawyer and always has a practical solution to any issue, no matter how complex.’
‘Tom Newcombe – always available to help, even if it is just a chat. Approachable and affordable.’
‘Deborah Sharples is excellent, always makes herself available and always attentive, and professional’
Principaux clients
Hopkins Homes Limited
Vistry Group
Countryside Partnerships (now part of Vistry Group)
Brentwood Borough Council
Breckland District Council
Crest Nicholson PLC
Hill Residential
Mersea Homes Limited
Welcome Break Services PLC
Persimmon Homes
Denbury Homes
Stonebond Properties Limited
Anderson Group
The Broads Authority
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk District Council
M7
Broxbourne Borough Council
Marden Homes Limited
South Norfolk Council
Flogas Britain Limited
Broads Authority
Norfolk Environmental Credits Limited
Davis Commercials Limited
Tutis Energy Limited
Exmoor National Park
Banham Poultry (2018) Limited
George J Goff Limited
BW Farms Limited
Allison Homes Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Welcome Break Services on all the highway and rights of way agreements/consents/licences to be entered into in relation to a new motorway service station on the A1(M)
- Advised Countryside Properties (UK) Limited and L&Q New Homes Limited and London and Quadrant Housing Trust regarding the cross-boundary redevelopment of Beam Park Dagenham, which has been uplifted to include 4,000 homes; two primary schools and nurseries (Use Class D1); a new railway station; and supporting uses including retail, healthcare, and a multi-faith worship space.
- Advising Brentwood Borough Council (including at hearings, negotiations and regarding a management plan) following the service of an abatement notice on Thames Water concerning a sewage treatment works.
Howes Percival LLP
Howes Percival LLP has a strong planning practice in East Anglia and further afield, and it handles Environmental Impact Assessments and applications for planning permission on behalf of both developers and landowners. Jay Mehta, who works from both Norwich and Cambridge, co-leads the practice along with Paul Hunt in Leicester. 'It truly feels as though they have the client's best interests at the forefront of their advice', clients remark. 'His attention to detail and speed to turn work round has been fantastic', say clients of director Jamie Childs. Mehta and Childs recently acted for Persimmon Homes in several new developments across Suffolk and Essex.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jay Mehta; Paul Hunt
Autres avocats clés:
Jamie Childs; Beth Boucher
Les références
‘Jamie Childs has been excellent upon every project I have worked alongside him on. His attention to detail and speed to turn work round has been fantastic.’
‘Jamie Childs is an excellent planning lawyer. Clear-headed and knowledgeable.’
‘Jay Mehta and Jamie Childs are regarded as top-tier planning and development solicitors, and trusted amongst colleagues and clients alike.’
Principaux clients
Barratt David Wilson Homes (BDW Trading Limited)
Minster Property Group Limited
Saffron Housing Trust Limited
Tilia Homes Limited
Pentaco Construction Limited
Linden (Thurston) LLP
Linden (Highfields Caldecote) LLP
Vistry Homes Limited (including Countryside Partnerships)
Suffolk County Council
Persimmon Homes
Ptarmigan Land Limited
Allison Homes Norfolk & Suffolk Limited
Abel Homes Limited
Home Builders Federation
Taylor Wimpey UK Limited
Flagship Group (including Victory Housing)
Pigeon Group
Endurance Estates
Turnstone Estates
Breckland District Council
South Holland District Council
Elemento Group
This Land Limited
Big Sky Developments Limited T/A Big Sky Living
Axis Land Partnerships
Serruys Property Company Limited
NEEB Holdings
Crisp Maltings Group / Anglia Maltings (Holdings) Limited
Heritage Developments Limited
Laragh House Developments Limited
Enterprise Residential Development Limited
ESCO Developments Ltd
Lovell Partnerships Limited
Hundred Houses Society Limited
Wellington Construction
Bennett Plc
Fleur Developments Limited
Orchard Homes (East Anglia) Limited
Burgess Homes Limited
Building Partnerships Limited
University of East Anglia
Halsbury Homes Limited
Hopkins Homes Limited
Jaynic
Wain Estates
Herts Living Limited
AvantGlamp
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Persimmon Homes Limited on a number of large scale and complex legal agreements including concluding a s.106 agreement for a development of 950 dwellings in Clacton, Essex and a nature-based solution to achieve nutrient neutrality in Norfolk.
- Provided legal support to Barratt David Wilson on its 600 dwelling development at Knights Hill, King’s Lynn which secured reserved matters approval in Autumn 2023.
- Advised a landowner consortium on the planning law aspects of the disposal of the 3,520 dwelling Beeston Park development to the north of Norwich.
Mills & Reeve LLP
Mills & Reeve LLP is highly regarded for its 'local knowledge and expertise, and prompt and clear advice' on complex planning matters and environmental law. The firm advises developers, strategic land owners, investors, funds, major corporates, and public sector bodies, among them Urban&Civic, Marshall Group Properties Ltd, and housebuilder Taylor Wimpey. In Cambridge, practice head Peter Seaborn specialises in the promotion of complex planning projects. Principal associate Caroline Bywater handles strategic planning matters, and senior associates Howard Felstead (residential), Hannah Edwards (planning and highways law), and Alex Round (strategic land) are also recommended. Consultant Beverley Firth plays a key role in residential development projects.
Responsables de la pratique:
Peter Seaborn
Autres avocats clés:
Howard Felstead; Alex Round; Hannah Edwards; Caroline Bywater; Beverley Firth
Les références
‘Local knowledge and expertise, providing prompt and clear advice.’
‘I have worked with Peter Seaborn on a number of occasions and found him to be able to simplify complex planning matters and respond to queries promptly.’
‘To find that balance between detail and strategy, one needs both to make good decisions and M&R can do that. They help with the big decisions, but get down into the weeds when needed.’
Principaux clients
Urban&Civic
Marshall Group Properties Ltd
University of Cambridge
Trinity College Cambridge
Taylor Wimpey
Brookgate
O&H Group
Axis Land Partnerships Ltd
Railpen
Queens’ College, Cambridge
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Marshall on the major planning application for Marshall Aerospace’s proposed relocation from Cambridge Airport to Cranfield Airport.
- Advising Brookgate on the planning appeal for Cambridge North, a major mixed use and high profile regeneration project adjacent to Cambridge North Station.
- Advising Railpen on the major redevelopment of the Beehive Centre, a large retail park in Cambridge for a new local centre and community uses together with substantial office and R+D floorspace.
Ashtons Legal
'They provide practical advice in a clear manner', say clients of Ashtons Legal's standout performers in Cambridge, partner Amy Richardson and consultant Bob McGeady, who works between his home in Shetland and the firm's Bury St Edmunds office. The 'utterly reliable, highly skilled' McGeady assisted Framlingham Town Council with a potential judicial review in relation to a proposal to grant planning permission for a self-build scheme. Richardson is a key adviser to regional housebuilders.
Responsables de la pratique:
Amy Richardson; Bob McGeady
Les références
‘The team is client-focused and quick to respond. They provide practical advice in a clear manner which clients appreciate.’
‘Bob McGeady is responsive and quickly gets to the point with his advice. Clients like his straightforward approach.’
‘It is the communication that sets Ashtons apart. I am always confident of a rapid and informed response to any question I have.’
Principaux clients
Framlingham Town Council
Philip Webb
Scott Properties Limited
Jaynic Suffolk Park Logistics
Wayne Low
Mead Construction (Cambridge) Limted
Godolphin Management Company Limited
P.F Ahern (London) Limited
Oliver Colbert
Kevin Smith
Principaux dossiers
- Working with Jaynic Suffolk Park Logistics Ltd in relation to a significant proposed planning application for a major development on the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds. The development of the land is seen as a key part of growth in the area by St Edmundsbury Council.
- Advising Scott Properties Limited on a range of 106 Agreements at various large sites across the region.
- Advising Framlingham Town Council in relation to a potential judicial review regarding a proposal to grant planning permission for a self-build scheme in Framlingham contrary to policy.
HCR Hewitsons
The firm-wide planning, highways and environment practice at HCR Hewitsons, which is led from Worcester by Rosalind Andrews, is frequently involved in large-scale development projects, including residential and mixed-use sustainable urban expansions, acting for national and regional developers,. It also advises farmers, investment owners and landed estates on new projects, the compulsory acquisition of land and compensation, and High Court matters. Partner Gemma Dudley and senior associate Brendon Lee are the main contacts in Cambridge. 'Professional, knowledgeable, caring', notes one client.
Responsables de la pratique:
Rosalind Andrews
Autres avocats clés:
Gemma Dudley; Brendon Lee
Les références
‘Having used practice services across numerous legal areas (including conveyancing, corporate business sale, corporate business purchase, local planning, employment matters et al), the team members are consistently highly knowledgeable, professional and effective. Every engagement with the team has resulted in a successful outcome.’
‘The key common individual strengths and characteristics of the team that differentiate them from their competition include: highly ethical and values driven; excellent empathetic understanding, listening skills and insight; true genuineness and congruence; and a natural culture of respect and unconditional positive regard.’
‘The individuals at HCR are all great but if I have to pick, Brendon Lee of the Cambridge office has been outstanding in his support and service to our community. His knowledge of the law is very good, he is honest and will pass us to a colleague if he feels it is best for us but is always on hand if we need further support and guidance. Brendon is a team player with a focus on his client’s needs. You cannot ask for more than this.’
Principaux clients
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Hill Residential Limited
Cambridge Investment Partnership LLP
United Learning Limited
Rushmoor Development Partnership LLP
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust
The Greensand Trust
Great Oakley Farms Limited
Easton Parish Council
Principaux dossiers
- Acting for the Rushmoor Development Partnership LLP in the negotiation of a s106 Agreement for the redevelopment of Farnborough Civic Quarter for a mixed-use development, including up to 960 residential units (Use Class C3) and mixed used non-residential floorspace.
- Advising the Conservators of the River Cam on the impact of Anglian Water’s proposed relocation of its waste water treatment plant in Cambridge which discharges into the River Cam. The project is a national significant infrastructure project (NSIP) requiring a development consent order (DCO) which is currently being heard by the Examining Authority.
- Acting for 2DS Property Development Ltd on a judicial review of the lawfulness of liability notices issued by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in relation to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). It involves untested points of law on the liability and calculation of CIL in the context of withdrawn notices and s73 permissions.