Planning

Understanding the complex planning regulation and procedures is often central to unlocking real estate development and infrastructure schemes.

A clear understanding of planning law is essential to manage risks, recognise and predict regulatory and commercial trends, and develop effective strategies for your projects.

We work with both businesses and public sector organisations, combining our legal expertise, pragmatic approach and market intelligence to help them avoid pitfalls, explore opportunities early, and resolve any dispute along the way.

Our lawyers are known for advising on large infrastructure, urban development and regeneration projects – including high-profile, complex schemes from initial strategic support through to project conclusion.

We also apply our planning expertise to real estate transactions and energy projects, working closely with colleagues from our wider real estate and corporate teams. And to make sure our support is our comprehensive as possible, we’ll involve our trusted external network, too, as and when needed.

If you’re a Welsh public sector organisation, you can easily access our services via the National Procurement Service.

Expertise

Planning advisory for real estate transactions and projects

  • planning law
  • determination of planning applications and planning conditions and consents
  • section 106 agreements and other planning and statutory agreements
  • planning enforcement
  • building regulations
  • rights of way and rights of drainage and other services
  • highways related advice
  • common land and village greens
  • environmental impact assessments
  • compulsory purchase and compensation
  • strategic advice
  • listed buildings, conservation areas, and other heritage considerations

Planning dispute resolution

  • planning prosecutions and appeals (including Planning Inspectorate related)
  • planning appeals
  • planning public inquiries and appeals (including advocacy)
  • conduct of court proceedings
  • judicial review and statutory challenges

Planning advisory for energy projects

  • traditional energy (including nuclear)
  • renewable energy (including biomass, tidal, wind, solar and waste-to-energy)

Corporate transactions support

  • due diligence
  • appointment of consultants
  • planning warranties and indemnities
  • exploring insurance options

Experience

  • Advising a leading Welsh University on high profile project with planning complexities  helping to secure planning consent for residential development (including social housing)
  • Advising Pobl Group on two proposed multi-million-pound housing developments
  • Advising Bridgend College on the development of its STEAM Academy  the first project to be funded out of Welsh Government’s Band B funding and a flagship for showcasing 21st Century learning