Planning | UK Bar

Landmark Chambers is widely recognised as the leading set for high-profile and nationally significant infrastructure planning inquiries and similar cases. These barristers take on complex disputes involving Green Belt and environmental considerations, matters of government policy, and both rail and air infrastructure. The set's diverse client base runs the gamut of developers, property owners, central government and local authorities throughout the UK. This year, members of chambers have appeared in the challenge to the expansion of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. One instructing solicitor notes that the set maintains "deep experience with the detailed issues involved in complex planning matters". Another interviewee agrees, stating that the team delivers "commercial advice that is client and solution focused".

Francis Taylor Building is renowned for its dedication to planning work. Sources remark that the set is an "excellent planning set who provide clear and concise advice". The set has the capacity to take on the full range of planning matters, from compulsory purchase and compensation issues to environment, highways, and town and village green law. The set cultivates a similarly diverse client base, taking instructions from both local and central government, amenities, promoters, developers and interested parties. Members have recently acted in a significant number of cases relating to high-value residential developments, as well as high-profile infrastructure and policy-related matters. Members of the set appeared recently in Jones v Wrexham County Borough Council & Ors. An interviewee remarks that the set provides "comprehensive advice, good knowledge and clear and open communication". Other respondents agree that the team is "excellent - responsive and diligent".

39 Essex Chambers is notable for its broad geographical reach and its substantial base of both national and international clients, including individual residents, developers, private firms and government departments. The planning team's recent work includes R (Save Stonehenge) v Secretary of State for Transport, a case concerning the construction of a road tunnel to replace the surface level A303 at Stonehenge. One source says: "39 Essex has an excellent spread of skills and experience throughout the chambers." Further respondents state the set provides "exemplary support and advice".

The versatile Cornerstone team is capable of taking on both high-stakes planning inquiries and contentious cases in all venues from the High Court to the Supreme Court, with the benefit of additional experience in adjacent fields such as local property and public law. Clients typically range from private individuals to public bodies and from small businesses to large-scale developers. One example of the set's recent high-profile work is the Gatwick Northern Runway DCO Examination whereby Gatwick is proposing a second fulltime runway that would increase its capacity for flights and passengers by over a third. Sources report that the team provide "clear concise advice and rapid response times". Another interviewee says: "Cornerstone has a wide range of expertise and barristers to suit every type of client."

Daryl Hughes is the senior clerk.

Six Pump Court is well regarded for planning work in both advisory and litigation contexts, with an affinity for matters that overlap with related disciplines such as regulatory and environmental law. Barristers at the set represent all manner of clients in the planning world, including private entities, such as developers, infrastructure providers and landowners, and public bodies, such as a number of London boroughs and other local authorities. An interviewee states the team is made up of "experienced barristers who are friendly, knowledgeable and courteous". Another source adds: "They are planning specialists who can competently take on complex and sophisticated matters." This year, a work highlight for the set was appearing in the appeal regarding the demolition of Holborn Studios.