Department profile
CMS

Planning & Environment

UK Guide 2026 : Yorkshire

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CMS

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Planning & Environment - Yorkshire

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

CMS houses a noted planning team that operates across the North of England, advising clients from both the public and private sectors. It is particularly adept at energy and infrastructure matters, with strong experience in wind, battery storage, gas, electricity and solar developments. Its expertise also includes real estate work, including managing and delivering large-scale mixed-use development schemes. The department is known for advising on large renewable energy and related schemes across the UK, including major wind and solar farms.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • CMS provided strategic and detailed planning law advice regarding an extension to Scout Moor Wind Farm in Rossendale.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Risk, reputation and reward have been central considerations of their representation throughout, with intended and potential unintended consequences framed in sense of the commercial environment.

    Planning & Environment respondentUK

  • The firm have in-depth experience of the sector, which is manifestly genuine and not just theoretical or conceptual.

    Planning & Environment respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • David Hardy
    David Hardy

    David Hardy

    David Hardy acts for retail, energy infrastructure and housing clients on a range of planning matters, including Section 106 agreements and enforcement notices. He also represents clients in planning appeals and judicial reviews.

    • David Hardy constantly delivers with precision, focus and awareness of the clients' needs.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK

    • David is top drawer; his intellect, understanding and empathy means he sees the bigger picture and frames his advice accordingly. I have the utmost respect for David personally and professionally.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK
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  • Christopher Bowes
    Christopher Bowes

    Christopher Bowes

    Christopher Bowes advises on a range of planning matters, such as compulsory purchase and development consent orders for residential, transport and leisure projects.

    • Christopher is very responsive and has always given well-considered advice to us.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK

    • He has good commercial acumen and knowledge of the best way to engage with local authorities, which is very helpful. He doesn't rush you into a dispute without carefully counselling on implications.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK
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  • Lukas Rootman
    Lukas Rootman

    Lukas Rootman

    Lukas Rootman is a partner in the Environment and Health & Safety team, specialising in regulatory matters, including incident response and advisory work. He has substantial experience representing clients in regulatory proceedings. He has experience and industry knowledge across environment, energy and climate change.

    • Lukas provides very pragmatic advice on a complex and specialist area of law, drawing on his considerable and varied experience. He is an experienced and trusted safe pair of hands.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK

    • He has excellent expertise also on ESG, non-contentious and commercial matters related to environmental, and health and safety, matters.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK

    • If you want someone to be polite but robust and precise when responding to a regulator, Lukas is your man. He's a tough cookie, but his staff respect him and he is a key role model.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK

    • I feel comfortable that I can rely on his support engaging with a number of colleagues: from project engineers and senior project managers, to members of project boards.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK

    • Lukas is first-class and deals with some of the biggest health and safety and environmental cases.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK
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  • Rebecca Roffe
    Rebecca Roffe

    Rebecca Roffe

    Rebecca Roffe has extensive experience in planning and environmental law, with a focus on the real estate, energy and infrastructure sectors, including work on nationally significant infrastructure projects, compulsory purchase examinations, planning appeals, and statutory biodiversity net gain.

    • Rebecca gives sound and pragmatic advice and can find new answers on complex projects that no one has ever done before.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK

    • She was responsive, helpful and could explain things in a way to non-experts.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK
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  • Aimie Farmer
    Aimie Farmer

    Aimie Farmer

    Aimie Farmer is a senior associate in the Environment and Health & Safety team at CMS, advising across sectors including energy, waste, food, consumer goods, hospitality, residential care, and industry.

    • Aimie is top quality and a highly experienced solicitor. I cannot fault her attention to detail, knowledge or work ethic.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK
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Ranked Individuals at CMS (5)

Yorkshire

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