Birketts LLP is ‘a one-stop shop for services to clients for land deals, promotions or s106 agreements’. The firm has an impressive roster of public and private sector clients for both planning and environment matters, among them regional and national housebuilders, local authorities, strategic developers, and corporates. ‘True powerhouse’ Tom Newcombe in Cambridge and Deborah Sharples in Ipswich lead a group that ‘combines a truly personal service with the strength in depth which really adds value to the transactions’. Nicola Doole, Chloe Glason and public access specialist Camilla Rhodes also play key roles in the practice.

The planning group at Howes Percival LLP is ‘approachable and down to earth, and the advice is timely and efficient’. The firm is a key adviser to national and regional housebuilders, as well as some of the largest land promoters and developers operating in and beyond the region. The firm’s work spans all aspects of planning law, as well as advice on Environmental Impact Assessments. Jay Mehta leads a practice that ‘brings a pragmatic and practical approach to complex legal matters’. His team includes Jamie Childs, who is ‘an industry leader when it comes to all things planning-related’.

The ‘consistently strong’ practice at Mills & Reeve LLP ‘balances strategy with immaculate attention to detail’. The firm-wide planning group has a strong nexus in East Anglia, handling national and, increasingly, international projects for strategic land promoters, large developers, strategic landowners, investors, funds, major corporates, and public sector bodies. The ‘approachable and attentive’ Peter Seaborn in Cambridge leads the group. Also in Cambridge, Caroline Bywater leads on many major strategic planning projects, while Alex Round specialises in large-scale strategic land projects, and Howard Felstead handles residential-led strategic development and commercial investment projects. Consultant Beverley Firth also remains active in key projects, and Hannah Edwards has a wealth of experience in planning and highways law.

Ashtons Legal‘s Cambridge office has a skilled team with extensive experience in both local authority and private planning matters. Amy Richardson leads the practice, which assists developers, landowners, Parish Councils, charities, housing associations and others with development control advice, strategic land matters, judicial reviews, planning and infrastructure agreements, highways matters, and enforcement issues. Richardson calls on the vast experience of Bob McGeady, who is known for his strong advocacy in public inquiries.

The firm-wide planning group at HCR Hewitsons is led from the Wye Valley office by Laura Greenman, and maintains a significant presence in Cambridge thanks to Gemma Dudley, who excels in planning, environment and compulsory purchase matters, and Brendon Lee, who works on commercial and residential developments, and minerals and waste planning matters. Lee frequently assists with planning applications and appeals, the interpretation of planning policy, and planning enforcement, as well as licensing and environmental regulatory control issues for waste operators.