Michael Bedford KC

Practice Areas

Planning, environmental and infrastructure work

Michael has an extensive practice covering all aspects of the development process (including compulsory purchase) with a particular emphasis on larger scale projects. He is currently promoting several local plans, including proposals in the South East, and the East of England.

He has recently promoted major infrastructure projects under the DCO regime in Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth and currently under the TCPA regime in Norwich, as well as acting for other participants in DCOs concerning Sizewell C, offshore wind farms, Sunnica solar farm, and Grid connections in Suffolk, and the Lower Thames Crossing. He is also acting on a range of housing and mixed-use developments in London and across the South East, South West, and the East of England.

Michael acts for developers and landowners, local planning authorities, and local highway authorities. Michael is familiar with presenting cases at inquiries and hearings, local plan examinations, and DCO examinations. His Court work includes leading cases on the Duty to Co-operate (Zurich and Barker Mill), Appropriate Assessment (Abbotskerswell and Devon Wildlife Trust), DPDs/SPDs (Skipton Properties), and the meaning of deliverable sites (East Bergholt).

Michael practices in Wales as well as England. He also deals with Definitive Map and other rights of way matters and sits as a Village Greens Inspector.

Career

LLB (Hons) from King’s College, London. He was called in 1985 and took silk in 2016.

Professional Memberships

PEBA; NIPA

Publications

General Editor of ‘Cornerstone on the Planning Court’, second edition (2021), and contributor to ‘Burnett-Hall on Environmental Law' (2012).