Richard Langham > Chambers of David Holland KC and Jenny Wigley KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

In relation to planning, he has experience of most forms of development.  In recent months he has appeared at public inquiries into proposals for quarrying, significant housing development and caravan sites.  He has particular experience of enforcement, including by prosecution and injunction, and often obtains interim injunctions, including injunctions against persons unknown.  He is regularly instructed to oppose development by gypsies and to act in enforcement cases against gypsies.  As a result he has had occasion to consider many GTAAs and their deficiencies.  He has recently appeared at local plan examinations into proposals to allocate land for gypsy sites.

Richard’s advisory work covers all aspects of planning work and related property law.  He has often advised on s106 agreements, permitted development rights, immunity claims and development agreements.  Increasingly he is asked to advise on CIL, and particularly the concept of ‘commencement’.  He appeared in the only Court of Appeal case on the meaning of r123 of the CIL Regulations.

Richard is often instructed in footpath cases and has appeared at many DMMO inquiries.  On several recent occasions he has drafted objections which have caused surveying authorities to reject DMMO applications.  He is often asked to advise and act in cases raising the more abstruse aspects of highways law, including recently the drafting of TROs, obligations under the NRSWA 1991, the sufficiency of user evidence, the extent of dedication and the true meaning of ‘as of right’, ‘bringing into question’ and ‘without interruption’.

Richard has been involved in significant litigation concerning the need for and the requirements of environmental assessment: one of his cases led to a change to the EIA Regulations.  He has also acted in many cases concerning the impact of noise, and the intricacies of the measurement of noise.  Many of his recent planning inquiries have involved noise issues and he has recently acted in both criminal and civil proceedings concerning alleged noise nuisance.

Richard often acts in compensation claims and advises on the compensation code, including, in the last few years, the different versions of ss14-18 of the Land Compensation Act 1961.  He has significant experience of settlement negotiations and has assisted in achieving highly satisfactory outcomes for clients.

Richard is qualified to accept public access instructions and has conducted inquiries and High Court litigation on a public access basis.