The team has three partners, two senior associates (both recognised as experts in Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession), together with five more junior solicitors. Richard Guyatt leads the team and has a national reputation in compulsory purchase and infrastructure consenting matters. John Houghton is a partner with over 30 years' experience of major infrastructure work and is one of the UK's leading experts on offshore wind developments. Partner Jonathan Bower is nationally recognised for his experience in compulsory purchase and local government issues.
Senior associate Sarah Homes is one of the country's leading experts on environmental assessment, whilst senior associate Vicki Redman has a particular expertise in waste to energy and other renewables projects.
What we do
With 10 legal experts we have one of the largest planning and regeneration teams in the country. The team has a particular reputation for infrastructure projects and complex land assembly issues where CPO powers are relied on.
The team supports a broad range of clients but with an emphasis on advising infrastructure providers and the public sector (both local and central government).
All types of planning work are undertaken with applications, appeals (including advocacy dealt with in-house as required) and planning agreements. There is a significant expertise in environmental impact assessment (EIA). Work on infrastructure schemes includes drafting development consent orders and acting on schemes where transport and works orders are promoted.
The team prides itself in "spotting the issues early" so that clients are not left with any hidden surprises when it comes to resolving planning issues.
Additional Resources
Comparison of the National Planning Policy Framework