Matthew Fraser > Chambers of David Holland KC and Jenny Wigley KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
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Matthew Fraser
Position
Matthew regularly appears in courts of all levels, as well as representing a range of clients in public inquiries and hearings. He has extensive experience acting for and advising private individuals and businesses, local authorities, central government departments, other public bodies, NGOs and interest groups.
Matthew is ranked by the legal directories in both administrative/public law and planning law.
- In Chambers and Partners 2023, he is ranked as “Up and Coming” in both Administrative and Public Law and Planning Law.
- In Legal 500 2023, he is ranked in Band 3 among “Leading Juniors” for Administrative Law and Human Rights, and in Band 4 among “Leading Juniors” in Planning Law.
- Matthew has been ranked among the top barristers in planning law under the age of 35 in the Planning Magazine’s 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Legal Surveys (ranking joint 8th in the most recent survey).
Notable court work
Highlights of his court practice include:
- R (Pearce) v West Berkshire Council [2023] EWHC 209 (Admin) – claim for judicial review against the grant of planning permission for a new sports facilities
- R (Finch) v Surrey CC [2022] PTSR 958 – Scope of requirement to carry out environmental impact assessment in relation to greenhouse gas emissions
- Kaitey v SSHD [2022] 3 WLR 121 – whether conditional immigration bail can be imposed on a person if it would be unlawful to detain them
- Antoniades & Ors v Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas (JR/1, 4 & 5/2015) – represented the successful Administrator resisting a claim for judicial review brought by locally employed civilians in the Sovereign Base Areas (Judgment, 22 June 2022)
- Monkhill Ltd v SSHCLG [2021] PTSR 1432 – Meaning of policies providing a “clear reason for refusal” in National Planning Policy Framework para. 11(d)
- Peel Investments (North) Ltd v SSHCLG [2021] PTSR 298 – Whether a time-expired plan is “out of date” under para. 11(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework
- Tower Hamlets LBC v SSHCLG [2020] PTSR 111 – Interpretation of National Planning Policy Framework para. 196 on harm to heritage assets
- RR v SSWP [2019] 1 WLR 6430 – Major constitutional case in the Supreme Court about what remedy a tribunal can grant to victims of the bedroom tax – acted for the successful appellant
- Dover DC & China Gateway International Ltd v CPRE Kent [2018] 1 W.L.R. 108 – Leading case in the Supreme Court concerning the duty on local authorities to give reasons for planning decisions.
Notable inquiries/hearings
Highlights of his practice at inquiries/hearings include:
- Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire: represented the successful landowner in gaining planning permission for a 380-home scheme in the Green Belt due to “very special circumstances” following a 7-day public inquiry (March 2023).
- Grove Farm, Havering: represented the successful landowner in appealing against 21 enforcement notices and securing planning permission for large-scale industrial development in the Green Belt on the basis of “very special circumstances” (January 2023).
- 458 Oxford Street, London: represented the main objector (SAVE Britain’s Heritage) opposing the re-development of M&S’s flagship store at a two-week public inquiry for the called-in application (October 2022)
- Warren Golf Club, Maldon: represented the successful council resisting a scheme for luxury holiday lodges at a golf club in a two-week public inquiry (June 2022)
- Thistle Quay Hotel, Poole: represented the successful council at a two-week public inquiry resisting a major mixed-use residential, hotel and commercial scheme in the historic Poole quayside (June 2022)
- West Berkshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: represented the successful council promoting their new plan at public examination hearings (February 2022)
- Loxwood Road, Alfold: represented the successful developers at a public inquiry securing planning permission for 99 homes in the Surrey countryside (December 2021)
- Cheshire East Site Allocations DPD: represented the successful council promoting their new plan at public examination hearings (October 2021)
- Broad Road, Hambrook: represented the successful developer promoting a scheme for 118 homes at a public inquiry (September 2021)
- Whitstable Oyster Company: represented the successful oyster company at a two-week public inquiry appealing against an enforcement notice requiring the removal of inter-tidal trestles used for the cultivation of oysters (August 2021).
Memberships
Appointed to the Attorney General’s B Panel of Junior Counsel
- Planning and Environmental Bar Association
- United Kingdom Environmental Law Association
Education
Qualifications
- Balliol College, University of Oxford (BA, Philosophy, Politics and Economics)
- Birkbeck, University of London (Distinction, LLM Qualifying Law Degree)
- City University London (Outstanding, BPTC)
Scholarships
- Inner Temple Major Scholarship
Personal
Awards
- The William Rose Memorial Prize for Excellence in Drafting (for the highest mark in the BPTC drafting assessment)
- The Sibel Dedezade Pro Bono Award (for exceptional pro bono work)
- Winner of the Human Rights Lawyers’ Association Judicial Review Competition 2013
- Winner of the Access to Justice Foundation Student Essay Competition 2013
- Highest ranked UK team, International Monroe E. Price Media Law Moot
- Balliol College Markby Exhibitioner
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Administrative law and human rights
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Matthew Fraser – Landmark Chambers ‘A very friendly junior, who is great at handling clients’ expectations.’
London Bar > Planning
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 4Matthew Fraser – Landmark Chambers ‘Matthew is a joy to work with. Matthew is invested in obtaining the right outcome for his clients, rather than just chalking up a win. Matthew’s advocacy is calm, thorough, methodical and highly effective.’
Landmark Chambers is a ‘go to’ set that ‘is unequalled in depth in the planning field’. The chambers has an established reputation in the development sector, while also carrying out significant work in the government and local government space. The set’s ‘enviable choice of counsel, both junior and senior’, appears in significant inquiries, promoting large urban extensions, as well as major mixed-use developments and tall buildings. Heather Sargent acted for Marks and Spencer after its application to demolish and rebuild its flagship store at Marble Arch, Oxford Street was called-in by the Secretary of State; Matthew Fraser represented the main objector, SAVE Britain’s Heritage, during the two-week public appeal. Fraser, led by David Elvin KC acting for Horse Hill Developments, was also one of several members involved in R (Finch) v Surrey County Council, a case concerning the scope of environmental impact assessments of hydrocarbon extraction projects, and its application – Richard Moules KC represented the Secretary of State in the same case Court of Appeal and led Nick Grant in the ongoing appeal in the Supreme Court. Timothy Corner KC led Guy Williams KC in Secretary of State for Transport v Curzon Park Ltd & others, representing the Secretary of State in the Supreme Court in a case concerning if CPO valuations should be increased by nearby planning applications. Tim Mould KC, as was, was appointed as a High Court Judge, effective February 2024.