Our national planning team has specialist experience gained from both the public and private sectors and offers advice on all aspects of development and planning law, policy and practice, as well as public law and local government issues. This ranges from initial advice, site appraisals and project management, through to negotiating complex development and infrastructure agreements, and undertaking Inquiry and High Court work. The team manages and advises on a broad range of schemes, including retail, residential, leisure, transport, waste, mineral and renewable energy development and office proposals. Our clients comprise retailers, developers, landowners and institutional investors.

As effective negotiators, we are highly experienced in the progression and management of projects and applications, and securing permission without recourse to a planning Inquiry. We can steer clients through the potential minefield of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. Where an Inquiry is necessary, we have the experience, expertise, and resources to lead and co-ordinate the planning team.

We have considerable experience of compulsory purchase work, High Court Appeals, and Judicial Review.

It is this breadth of experience and expertise that our clients rely on to give them confidence in their dealings with the planning system.

The 2004 edition of the Legal 500 describes our planning team members as ‘the best in the business’ and ‘widely praised’. It also mentions that ”the firm acts on a wide range of projects, including large and complex residential schemes. It also advises utilities companies with surplus assets".Legal 500 – 2004.

• acting for News International Limited on the relocation of their printing operations from Wapping and advising on their planning applications for major new print facilities at Broxbourne and Liverpool.
• Acting for Valley and Vale Properties in connnection with their comprehensive urban redevelopment proposals for 30 acres of land at Middlewood, Salford, adjoining Manchester city centre.
• Advising Asda Stores Limited in connection with the planning aspects of the investigation by the Competition Commission into the UK grocery market, following the referral to it by the Office of Fair Trading.

Carl Dyer
t +44 (0)20 7105 7170
carl.dyer@osborneclarke.com