Planning for individuals

Russell-Cooke provides strategic advice to assist individuals with the often complex aspects of planning law, helping clients achieve their property aims. The planning team covers a comprehensive range of advice and support throughout all aspects of the planning process.

How we can help you secure planning permission

• Strategic planning advice in relation to planning applications, change of use applications and the effective use of Permitted Development Rights working alongside planning consultants as appropriate to bolster planning applications
• Drafting lawful development certificates for future or already completed development
• Drafting planning obligations/agreements which are required for the grant of planning permission, for example s106 agreements to secure affordable housing or a car free development and subsequent deeds of variation
• Advice on planning policy which may affect the proposed development

How we can help if your planning application is refused

• Appeals of planning decisions which have been refused
• Statutory challenges/High Court appeals
• If enforcement action is taken by the council, we can assist by appealing this
• If you have been prosecuted for failure to comply with an enforcement notice, we work with our criminal litigation team to try to work with the council to find a mutually agreeable solution

How we can help if you want to object to a proposed development

• Drafting objection letters against neighbouring developments and representing clients at planning committee
• Judicial review of planning permissions
• Working with a council to achieve enforcement action if a neighbour is carrying out unlawful development

Other planning issues we can assist with

• Listed properties or those located within a Conservation area and implications for any proposed works
• Properties with trees subject to a Trees Preservation Order and implications for any proposed works
• Common land, village greens and assets of community value
• Breaches of licensing
• Highways Law and public rights of way
• Property subject to a proposed compulsory purchase order (CPO) including compensation advice

Our planning lawyers, led by Alex Ground, are described in The Legal 500 (2022) as "very dynamic, always available, quick workers" and "very responsive and detailed in their advice. Able to comment in detail at short notice."

The team is also ranked for its administrative and public law expertise where commentators noted our "high degree of specialist knowledge and diligence" as well as our "ability to quickly and efficiently draft a case and legal standing."