JUNIOR PROFILE

John Hunter

UK Bar 2026

Kings Chambers

Ranked in 3 practice areas

Planning

Northern/North Eastern (Bar)

6 years ranked

Environment

Northern (Bar)

9 years ranked

Local Government

Northern (Bar)

7 years ranked

About

Provided by Kings Chambers

Practice Areas

John is an experienced junior practising in the fields of planning, environmental and local government law. He appears regularly in planning appeals and in claims for judicial review, statutory review and other proceedings in these fields. He worked as a Judicial Assistant to Lord Nicholls and Lord Rodger in the House of Lords. He co-ordinates and contributes to the Encyclopaedia of Local Government Law Bulletin. Significant reported cases include: R (Piffs Elm Ltd) v Local Government Ombudsman; R (Cameron) v Manchester CC; Oxton Farm v Harrogate BC; Dill v Secretary of State for Homes, Communities and Local Government; East Staffs BC v Barwood Land, Suffolk Coastal DC & Cheshire East BC v Hopkins Homes Ltd.

Career

Kings Chambers (2003-present), Judicial Assistant, House of Lords (2004-5), The Queen’s College, Oxford University (1995-2000), Attorney General’s Regional A Panel Member

Professional Memberships

PEBA, ALBA

Publications

Encyclopedia of Local Government Law Bulletin

- The Right to Reasons for Decisions to Grant Planning Permission (April 2018)

- Investigating Alleged Breaches of Code of Conduct Under Grievance Procedures (August 2018)

- The exclusion of members of the public from committee proceedings: when is a meeting not a meeting? (November 2018)

- Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Ascertaining Liability for Council Tax (April 2019)

Local Government Lawyer

- Officers, Relatives and Apparent Bias (December 2016)

- Section 106 and Switching Planning Permissions (December 2015)

Environmental Law Monthly

- Jedwell Decision Reconsidered (May 2016)

- Roskilly: EIA, the Secretary of State and Retrospective Invalidity (Feb 2016)

- Environmental Justice (December 2014)

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Planning - Northern/North Eastern (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

John Hunter possesses a wealth of experience in planning inquiries and related court proceedings, including judicial reviews. He frequently acts for developers, local authorities and other interested parties. He is well versed at acting in housing and other development planning appeals.

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Environment - Northern (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

John Hunter has an impressive environmental practice spanning pollution, conservation, waste and protected species. He has a well-established reputation for acting in judicial reviews and injunctions for clients, including local authorities and regulators. He also has experience appearing before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

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Local Government - Northern (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

John Hunter is a strong junior with experience acting in a wide range of local government matters. He is well versed in cases concerning local authority vires and compulsory purchase orders, and can handle all aspects of public law and planning work. He regularly handles highways claims and appears in the Court of Appeal.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

John Hunter is very bright and his written submissions are just excellent.
PlanningUK Bar
John Hunter is very strong and his advice is clear and concise.
PlanningUK Bar
John is very calm and measured in difficult circumstances.
PlanningUK Bar
John Hunter is very good on complex issues and potential challenges, and he is my go-to on High Court of Appeal.
EnvironmentUK Bar
John is excellent. He's very good on complex issues and potential challenges.
Local GovernmentUK Bar