Providing ‘robust, honest and pragmatic legal advice’, Burges Salmon LLP‘s planning and compulsory purchase unit is often frequently involved in large, nationally significant infrastructure projects. The team is also known for its regular representation of councils and other local authorities on CPOs, another central part of the practice. Spearheading the practice out of Bristol, Gary Soloman has expertise covering CPOs, highway proposals, and the compensation aspects of regeneration projects, while Julian Boswall has experience in large NSIPs, energy matters, and transport projects, with Elizabeth Dunn also being highly regarded in these areas in addition to the Developments of National Significance consenting regime in Wales. Other key members of the practice include Alex Minhinick, senior associates Jen Ashwell, Matthew Tucker, Daniel Whittle and Laura Fuller, as well as directors Cathryn Tracey, who is a common land and open space expert, and Sarah Sutherland.

Osborne Clarke LLP‘s ‘diligent, friendly and knowledgeable’ planning team has particularly strong expertise in energy mandates, illustrated by its advice to Ecotricity on a proposed 500MW solar farm; the team also handles residential developments, where the practice assists with large developments, acting for national housebuilders. The firm has experience handling contentious and non-contentious planning matters, including CPOs and appeals, with other expertise spanning strategic planning matters such as nutrient neutrality and biodiversity net gain work. In Bristol, team head Neil Bromwich has a focus on CPOs, especially in relation to the Energy Act and Highways Act; he also has experience in decarbonisation, biodiversity, hydrogen and battery mandates. In the same office, Richard Harding is a key name for residential development mandates including s.106 agreements, rights of way issues, and affordable housing work, with Josh Taylor taking the lead on energy matters. Laura Cooke and Arthur Hopkinson are also of note.

Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP is prominent in NSIPs and development consent orders across the energy, waste, and transportation sectors, notably highway and rail matters. The team assists a number of local and public authorities and landowners, regularly supporting on site acquisitions, compulsory purchases and compensation issues, as well as advising a wide range of housing developers on application strategies, planning agreements, and environmental implications. Jonathan Bower and Victoria Redman lead the team; the former has extensive experience in CPOs, NSIPs, and regeneration projects, and the latter handles a wide range of development schemes and planning applications. Richard Guyatt excels in rail infrastructure projects along with CPOs and land compensation cases, and Emma Harling-Phillips is involved in several large highway and energy sector mandates. Also key to the team’s offering is NSIP expert Lorrae Henry and chartered town planner and solicitor Kevin Gibbs.

Ashfords LLP advises on an array of planning matters spanning s106 agreements, highway agreements, CPOs, and community infrastructure levies, in addition to nutrient neutrality and contentious matters. Alongside its sizeable roster of public sector and housebuilder clients, the practice also has ‘second to none’ renewable sector knowledge, highlighted by its involvement in numerous developments of national significance and NSIPs, particularly in Wales. Based in Exeter, the team is led by David Richardson, a residential development and CPO expert. He is joined by energy specialist Stephen Humphreys in Bristol and contentious expert Gareth Pinwell in Plymouth. Also noted are legal directors Elisabeth Osborne and Duncan Moors, who are both located in Exeter.

Based across Bristol and Taunton, Clarke Willmott LLP‘s planning and environment team is noted for advising national housebuilders on mixed-use developments and large residential developments. Planning and highway agreements, CPOs, community infrastructure levies, and judicial reviews represent core areas of expertise, with further experience extending to corporate transactions and Environment Impact Assessment regulation advice. Planning law specialist Chris Charlton is particularly knowledgeable in representing clients before planning committees, magistrates’ courts, and inquiries, bolstered by his prior experience in local government. ‘Highly efficient, highly knowledgeable and highly commercial’, Taunton’s Caroline Waller is another key name and has experience in matters such as common land and village green mandates. Jade Lyus is the key name at senior associate level.

The planning team at Michelmores LLP has a strong track record advising a diverse blend of public and private sector clients on a range of planning mandates that include section 106 matters, enforcements and appeals, and related environmental matters. The broad practice also advises on developments relating to housebuilders, hospitals, and police authorities, with other areas of experience covering niches such as coastal developments and marine licensing work. Planning and regeneration project expert Mark Howard leads the team from Exeter; he has considerable experience representing public authorities and private groups on the environmental, commercial, and regulatory aspects of planning mandates. In Cheltenham, Helen Hutton ‘gives practical, commercial advice’ and has experience advising on planning agreements, including those involving historic buildings and agriculture, court challenges, and compulsory purchases. In Exeter, Sarah Reardon has a focus on highway and sewer matters, with Harriet Grimes also dividing her time between a mixture of planning, highway, and residential development work.

Regularly instructed by local authorities, NHS organisations, and housing associations, Bevan Brittan LLP frequently assists with the use of compulsory purchase powers, s.106 agreements, highway DCOs, and community infrastructure levies. The practice is also involved in several regeneration projects, evidenced by its recent appointment by Portsmouth City Council to advise on its City Centre North Regeneration. With knowledge of contaminated land and former experience at the Environment Agency, Kathryn Lawrance leads the department from Bristol, taking the lead on a number of compulsory purchase and regeneration projects.

With ‘really good cross-disciplinary strength in planning and environmental work’, DAC Beachcroft LLP has a particularly strong track record in residential and healthcare related developments, in addition to handling matters in the higher education and retail sectors. Anne Harrison leads the Bristol planning and environment team, regularly acting for private and public sector housebuilders, NHS bodies, and local authorities. Also central to the team is senior associate Christopher Allingham, who focuses on urban regeneration schemes and rural developments.

The planning and environment practice at Foot Anstey is particularly well known for its development expertise in the energy, infrastructure, and residential sectors, where the firm acts for clients that include developers. The practice covers a range of regional and national matters encompassing local development orders, regeneration schemes, and Welsh Developments of National Significance, alongside CPOs, Section 106 agreements, and environmental matters. Located in Bristol, planning and environment expert Christian Silk leads the practice and has extensive experience assisting with land consent orders across the renewable energy, highway and rail sectors. Kee Evans has experience representing developers in the energy and highways spaces, and senior associate Marianne Ironside is also noted.

Stephens Scown LLP is highly regarded for its minerals expertise, with a particularly strong presence across Devon and Cornwall. Renewables, marine and waste, as well as residential and agricultural matters also represent areas of expertise, with the team frequently acting for developers, landowners, and operators. The practice is run by Chris Tofts in Truro and ‘first-rate solicitor’ Duncan Tilney in Exeter; the former excels in EIA, mineral issues, and judicial reviews, with the latter covering a mix of litigation and transactional work. In Cornwall, Sarah-Jane Williams-Cole is also noted for her representation of mineral operators and residential registered providers.

Providing ‘an exceptionally professional and reliable service’, the planning and environment team at Trowers & Hamlins LLP is noted for advising local authorities, central government departments, and registered housing providers, which form a core part of its wider client roster of private sector developers and housebuilders. Recently, the team has been involved in numerous sizeable mixed-use regeneration schemes, assisting on matters such as s106 agreements, highway agreements, and compulsory purchase orders. The South West offering is headed out of Exeter by Rory Stracey, who has experience in the contentious and non-contentious aspects of planning law. Sophie Emerson and Jasmin Andrews are also noted.

Thrings LLP advises on rural planning issues and the development of land, with mandates spanning farm diversifications and permitted development rights, residential developments, community infrastructure levies, consents, and planning due diligence. Alex Madden, head of planning and environmental, has experience in infrastructure agreements and planning applications, including section 106 agreements, along with EIA regulations, appeals in the High Court, and judicial reviews. Head of the development of land practice Rosalyn Trotman advises on a range of contentious and non-contentious development work, including environmental due diligence, while Fred Quartermain covers compulsory purchases and heritage assets, with associate Rebecca Stanton assisting with development schemes, environment agency prosecutions, and broader agriculture sector issues.

The ‘well-rounded’ planning and licensing team at Tozers Solicitors LLP specialises in holiday and residential caravan park mandates at a national level, and handles local government mandates for the likes of Somerset Council. This is complimented by expertise in residential developments and environmental planning law including phosphate credits and biodiversity net gain issues. Amy Carter heads up the team, regularly assisting a mixture of developers, industrial and leisure businesses, wildlife trusts, and individuals with contentious and non-contentious planning and licensing matters. Kelly Burns and Alex McKerron regularly assist with section 106 agreements for local authorities; McKerron also has experience in section 38 and 278 agreements and residential developments.