Planning

We provide expert planning advice to private and public sector clients

Our team advises a range of private and public sector clients on a variety of planning issues. In particular, we advise property developers on the planning and compulsory purchase aspects of mixed use schemes and large projects in London and elsewhere. 

We continue to advise on commercial development schemes for our clients, such as Hammerson, Land Securities, Capital Shopping Centres, SEGRO, Westfield, Standard Life and Costco. We also advise numerous regeneration and development companies on applications, appeals and public inquiries. Other clients include South Kent College, for whom we are acting on a campus redevelopment and residential scheme at Ashford in Kent.

Compulsory purchase (CPO) and compensation issues are now at the forefront of regeneration as local authorities are increasingly willing to use their powers to deliver schemes with wider public benefits. We have worked on major compulsory purchase and compensation claims, acting for the developers at St. David’s in Cardiff, for Land Securities and Capital Shopping Centres, Chobham Farm in Stratford, for Union Rail, Kings Cross, for London and Continental Railways, and at Bradford for Westfield. In addition, public sector clients such as the London Boroughs of Barnet and Lambeth are increasingly using CPO powers in order to achieve the regeneration of outmoded housing estates.  These involve agreements with housing associations and developers and the use of compulsory purchase powers to ensure that the development site can be delivered in accordance with the agreed programme.

Our latest alerts, briefings & reports
  • New procedure to extend the lifetime of planning permissions  
Due to the recession and the Government reducing the standard period for implementing a planning permission from 5 years to 3 years (and also prohibiting any application to extend the time period in 2004) a large number of permissions expire every month. Following extensive lobbying the Government has introduced this new procedure to facilitate economic recovery. From 1 October 2009 it will be possible to apply to Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to extend the lifetime of planning permissions. View full briefing
  • How a secondment helped Nabarro and the City of London exchange expertise  
Christopher Stanwell, a Senior Associate in Nabarro’s Planning department, has recently completed a six month secondment to the City of London’s legal department. Christopher advised on a wide range of highway and public law matters, working with a number of City of London’s departments as well as with developers and their consultants. Based on the foundation of many years experience we offer practical and cost-effective advice to developers, landowners and occupiers in the City.  View full briefing
  • A cheap way to extend planning permissions for major developments  
The Government is proposing a quick new planning procedure to breathe life into existing planning permissions. The proposal is in response to a dramatic slowdown in the take-up rate of major development schemes that already have planning permission. View full briefing
  • Planning for town centres: reopening the "in town" versus "out of town" debate?  
Following the commitment in the Planning White Paper Planning for a Sustainable Future (2007) to review the assessment of proposals outside town centres, the Government has now published draft amendments to Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres (PPS6). These are aimed at "refining" the current policy approach. View full briefing
  • How will the mayor use his new powers   
From 6 April 2008 the Mayor of London has had the power to determine planning applications that are of potential strategic importance in the Greater London area. How the Mayor will do this and the manner in which he does so could have a significant impact on the built and political environment. View full briefing
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