Francis Taylor Building
Rankings
Awarded leading set in UK Bar 2026
Ranked Practice Areas:
Ranked Barristers:
Overview
Provided by Francis Taylor Building
Head of Chambers: Simon Bird KC
Senior Clerk: Paul Coveney
Deputy Senior Clerks: James Kemp, Harry Killick
Tenants: 62
THE CHAMBERS:
Francis Taylor Building (FTB) has a long-standing reputation for excellence in providing advocacy and advisory services. FTB is consistently featured as a leading set in the independent legal directories for its expertise and leading role in planning, environmental, licensing, public, compulsory purchase and land valuation, major infrastructure projects, local government, rating, ecclesiastical and religious liberty, highways, commons and open spaces and ADR. Its position at the forefront of these areas of law is evidenced by members consistently appearing in many of the leading cases.
WORK UNDERTAKEN:
As part of its specialist practice, FTB undertakes works connected with planning, environment, licensing, national infrastructure planning projects, transport and works schemes, utilities, highways, heritage and conservation, Parliamentary Bills, common land and village greens, minerals, statutory nuisance and regulation, health and safety, property law including easements and covenants, religious liberty and ecclesiastical, education and energy. FTB maintains a panel of qualified and specialist CEDR and ADR accredited mediators. FTB offers a wide range of client facilities including a dedicated seminar suite to support its established programme of events and an arbitration and mediation suite which complements Chambers’ mediation and ADR expertise. The premises are fully DDA compliant.
Ranked Offices
Provided by Francis Taylor Building
UK - Head office
Greater London
Francis Taylor Building Inner Temple , London, Greater London, UK, EC4Y 7BY, London
Ranked Practice Areas
Ranked Barristers
Articles, highlights and press releases
29 items provided by Francis Taylor Building
Injunction for Planning Breaches in Green Belt Granted Despite Opposition from Prime Minister Theres
A judge has issued an injunction against the 'wilful' breach of planning rules in the Berkshire green belt, backing enforcement action by Wokingham District Council despite support from constituency MP, Theresa May (then Home Secretary) for the case to be dropped.<br/>The horticultural nursery, Hatch Hare…
High Court Refuses Injunction for Waste Operator and Upholds Revocation of Environmental Permit
Mrs Justice Lang recently rejected a claim for judicial review brought by a waste operator. The company challenged the decision of a DEFRA inspector to uphold the revocation of the operator’s environmental permit for a waste transfer site in East London. The challenge was brought on several grounds,…
Craig Howell Williams QC Qualifies as RICS Accredited Evaluative Mediator
<a href="https://www.ftbchambers.co.uk/barristers/craig-howell-williams-qc"><strong>Craig Howell Williams</strong></a> is a CEDR Accredited Mediator, a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Mediation Panel, a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the DCLG’s Planning Mediation Services Panel, and has now qualified as a RICS Accredited Evaluative Mediator.…
High Court Rejects Challenge to Somers Town Community Investment Programme Development
Mr Justice Jay has refused permission to apply for judicial review of a decision by LB Camden to grant itself planning permission and listed building consent for a major development in Somers Town pursuant to its Community Investment Programme (R (Devlin) v. LB Camden (CO/5992/2016)).<br/>The proposed development…
High Court Takes a View on Single Storey Residential Extensions
In a case arising out of a s.289 enforcement appeal concerning a flat in Wembley, the High Court had the opportunity to examine a council’s policies on single-storey residential extensions (Arulchelvan v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, 25 January 2017, Mr Justice Dove).<br/>The applicant…
Secretaries of State Grant Planning Permission for Works to Enable Full Runway Alternation at Heathr
Following an three-week inquiry in 2015, the Secretaries of State for Communities & Local Government and Transport have agreed with their Inspector's recommendation and have allowed Heathrow Airport Limited's appeal against the London Borough of Hillingdon's refusal of planning of planning permission…
Lambeth Licence New LGBTQ Nightclub in the Vauxhall Triangle
Lambeth Council has granted a rare new nightclub licence permitting “Bloc South” to open in London’s famed Vauxhall Triangle until 05:00hrs over the weekends. The new venue will be operated by Wayne Shires, a leading contributor to London’s night-time economy and one of the principal organisers of Gay…
HS2 Government Response Published
The Department for Transport has published its response to the House of Lords Select Committee on the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill.<br/>The DfT has accepted the Committee’s recommendation on the petition of the Coleshill Estate that land at Brickfield Farm, due to be compulsorily purchased…
Inspector Upholds Westminster City Council’s Enforcement Notice Without Amendment
The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed an appeal and upheld an enforcement notice issued by Westminster City Council against the creation of a fried chicken shop which was causing a nuisance and disturbance to nearby residents. The Inspector dismissed all grounds of appeal and upheld the notice in its…
Reasons Required for Delegated Decisions to Grant Planning Permission
The High Court has held in (Riki Shasha and others) v. Westminster CC [2016] EWHC 3283 (Admin) that local government officers granting planning permission under delegated authority are required to give reasons for their decisions. The decision is based on the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations…
Church Walk House Appeal Allowed
he Planning Inspectorate has allowed an appeal by Church Walk House Development LLP, and granted planning permission for the development of 35 residential units on the site of the former care home in Church Walk, London NW2 (PINS Appeal Ref: APP/N5090/W/16/3149976).<br/>An award of costs was also made against…
CLA House of Lords HS2 Petition
The Country Land and Business Association – the CLA – has succeeded in persuading the House of Lords Select Committee on the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill to recommend significant changes to the Bill. <br/>Most importantly perhaps, the Select Committee recommended the omission of the power…
Injunction for Planning Breaches in Green Belt Granted Despite Opposition from Prime Minister Theres
A judge has issued an injunction against the 'wilful' breach of planning rules in the Berkshire green belt, backing enforcement action by Wokingham District Council despite support from constituency MP, Theresa May (then Home Secretary) for the case to be dropped.<br/>The horticultural nursery, Hatch Hare…
High Court Refuses Injunction for Waste Operator and Upholds Revocation of Environmental Permit
Mrs Justice Lang recently rejected a claim for judicial review brought by a waste operator. The company challenged the decision of a DEFRA inspector to uphold the revocation of the operator’s environmental permit for a waste transfer site in East London. The challenge was brought on several grounds,…
Craig Howell Williams QC Qualifies as RICS Accredited Evaluative Mediator
<a href="https://www.ftbchambers.co.uk/barristers/craig-howell-williams-qc"><strong>Craig Howell Williams</strong></a> is a CEDR Accredited Mediator, a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Mediation Panel, a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the DCLG’s Planning Mediation Services Panel, and has now qualified as a RICS Accredited Evaluative Mediator.…
High Court Rejects Challenge to Somers Town Community Investment Programme Development
Mr Justice Jay has refused permission to apply for judicial review of a decision by LB Camden to grant itself planning permission and listed building consent for a major development in Somers Town pursuant to its Community Investment Programme (R (Devlin) v. LB Camden (CO/5992/2016)).<br/>The proposed development…
High Court Takes a View on Single Storey Residential Extensions
In a case arising out of a s.289 enforcement appeal concerning a flat in Wembley, the High Court had the opportunity to examine a council’s policies on single-storey residential extensions (Arulchelvan v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, 25 January 2017, Mr Justice Dove).<br/>The applicant…
Secretaries of State Grant Planning Permission for Works to Enable Full Runway Alternation at Heathr
Following an three-week inquiry in 2015, the Secretaries of State for Communities & Local Government and Transport have agreed with their Inspector's recommendation and have allowed Heathrow Airport Limited's appeal against the London Borough of Hillingdon's refusal of planning of planning permission…
Lambeth Licence New LGBTQ Nightclub in the Vauxhall Triangle
Lambeth Council has granted a rare new nightclub licence permitting “Bloc South” to open in London’s famed Vauxhall Triangle until 05:00hrs over the weekends. The new venue will be operated by Wayne Shires, a leading contributor to London’s night-time economy and one of the principal organisers of Gay…
HS2 Government Response Published
The Department for Transport has published its response to the House of Lords Select Committee on the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill.<br/>The DfT has accepted the Committee’s recommendation on the petition of the Coleshill Estate that land at Brickfield Farm, due to be compulsorily purchased…
Inspector Upholds Westminster City Council’s Enforcement Notice Without Amendment
The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed an appeal and upheld an enforcement notice issued by Westminster City Council against the creation of a fried chicken shop which was causing a nuisance and disturbance to nearby residents. The Inspector dismissed all grounds of appeal and upheld the notice in its…
Reasons Required for Delegated Decisions to Grant Planning Permission
The High Court has held in (Riki Shasha and others) v. Westminster CC [2016] EWHC 3283 (Admin) that local government officers granting planning permission under delegated authority are required to give reasons for their decisions. The decision is based on the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations…
Church Walk House Appeal Allowed
he Planning Inspectorate has allowed an appeal by Church Walk House Development LLP, and granted planning permission for the development of 35 residential units on the site of the former care home in Church Walk, London NW2 (PINS Appeal Ref: APP/N5090/W/16/3149976).<br/>An award of costs was also made against…
CLA House of Lords HS2 Petition
The Country Land and Business Association – the CLA – has succeeded in persuading the House of Lords Select Committee on the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill to recommend significant changes to the Bill. <br/>Most importantly perhaps, the Select Committee recommended the omission of the power…
Members
Provided by Francis Taylor Building
- Simon Bird KC (1987) (KC-2009) A
- Guy Roots KC (1969) (KC-1989)
- Robert McCracken KC (1973) (KC-2003)
- Andrew Tait KC (1981) (KC-2003)
- Michael Humphries KC (1982) (KC-2003)
- Gerald Gouriet KC (1974) (KC-2006) A
- David Matthias KC (1980) (KC-2006) A
- Morag Ellis KC (1984) (KC-2006)
- Craig Howell Williams KC (1983) (KC-2009)
- Richard Glover KC (1984) (KC-2009)
- Mark Hill KC (1987) (KC-2009) A
- Douglas Edwards KC (1992) (KC-2010) A
- Gregory Jones KC (1991) (KC-2011)
- Suzanne Ornsby KC (1986) (KC-2012)
- James Pereira KC (1996) (KC-2014) A
- Saira Kabir Sheikh KC (2000) (KC-2014)
- Andrew Fraser-Urquhart KC (1993) (KC-2015) A
- Hereward Phillpot KC (1997) (KC-2015)
- Alexander Booth KC (2000) (KC-2016) A
- Jeremy Phillips KC (2004) (KC-2018) A
- Richard Honey KC (2003) (KC - 2021) A
- Meyric Lewis KC (1986) (KC - 2023) A
- Mark Westmoreland Smith KC (2006) (KC 2024) A
- Philip Petchey (1976) A
- James Rankin (1983) A
- Gary Grant (1994) A
- Leo Charalambides (1998) A
- Emyr Jones (1999) A
- Kate Olley (1999) A
- John Jolliffe (2005) A
- Professor Pavlos Eleftheriadis (2006) ++
- Cain Ormondroyd (2007) A
- Annabel Graham Paul (2008) A
- Hugh Flanagan (2008)
- Rebecca Clutten (2008)
- Ned Westaway (2009) A
- Isabella Tafur (2009)
- David Graham (2010) A
- Michael Fry (2011) A
- George Mackenzie (2011) A
- Professor Gordon Anthony ++ (2011 – Northern Ireland)
- Alexander Greaves (2012)
- Caroline Daly (2013) A
- Charles Streeten (2013) A
- Charles Forrest (2014) A
- Merrow Golden (2014) A
- Horatio Waller (2014) A
- Daisy Noble (2015)
- Charles Merrett (2016) A
- Esther Drabkin-Reiter (2017)
- Michael Brendan Brett (2017) A
- Conor Fegan (2018) A
- Alex Williams (2017) A
- Jonathan Welch (2019) A
- Michael Rhimes (2019) A
- Mark O'Brien O'Reilly (2021)
- Michael Feeney (2021) A
- Stephanie Bruce-Smith (2021)
- Claire Nevin (2021)
- Armin Solimani (2023)
- Gabriel Nelson (2023)
- Jeffrey Chu (2024)
- Emma Rowland (2024)
- ++ Academic Member A Public/Direct Access *Associate Member