Our planning law barristers have considerable expertise in domestic and international planning law.
Members of the team are recommended for planning law in the Chambers UK Bar Guide and the Legal 500 Bar rankings. We are particularly noted for bringing a wealth of experience in complementary areas such as housing law and policy, environmental law, equality and discrimination law and human rights.
Areas of Expertise
- Fossil fuel extraction sites
- Major infrastructure projects such as airports and rail schemes
- Commercial planning schemes
- Community challenges to local and central government planning decisions
- Environmental matters
- Compulsory purchase
- Representing Gypsies and Travellers
- Regulatory challenges
- Planning enforcement cases
- Nature conservation
- Low-impact development
representing campaigners
Garden Court often represents individuals and groups seeking to pursue Judicial Review of planning decisions taken by public bodies.
We represent community and interest groups concerned with environmental and heritage protection and also objectors to development plans.
Our expert counsel have appeared in many high-profile cases and inquiries, including:
- Supreme Court challenge to Cuadrilla’s fracking site in Lancashire
- Successful interim injunction halting all construction on Barbuda International Airport
- Stationing of high velocity missiles on top of a residential tower block in East London. These missiles were planned as part of security measures for the 2012 Olympics
- Compulsory purchase order made in relation to the London Olympics site
- Grant of planning permission to QPR FC for the development of Warren Farm in West London
- Redevelopment of Woodford aerodrome into a large housing scheme
Team members regularly undertake planning and enforcement notice appeals before the Planning Inspectorate, as well as those relating to compulsory purchase orders.
Members have considerable experience of defending clients facing enforcement proceedings in both criminal and civil courts and in challenging planning and enforcement appeal decisions in the Planning Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
representing gypsies and travellers
Our barristers are renowned for their expertise in representing Gypsies and Travellers seeking planning permission for caravan sites and we regularly defend and challenge enforcement action taken against them.
We represented the Irish Travellers living on Dale Farm in their high-profile judicial review challenge of the decision taken by Basildon Borough Council to use its direct action powers to evict them from their homes.
Representing developers
Garden Court barristers have represented developers seeking permission for a wide range of developments including:
- Housing
- Equestrian centres
- Marinas
- Markets
- Waste management sites
- Garden centres
- Agricultural development
- Mobile home parks
funding your case
Given some of the difficulties in obtaining legal aid for these cases, we do our best to work with other funding arrangements, including ‘no win, no fee’ agreements where appropriate, fixed fees for some matters and crowd funding.
