Richard Banwell > Chambers of Stephen Hockman KC and Mark Watson KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Richard Banwell

020 7797 8400 richardbanwell@6pumpcourt.co.uk View profile

Position

Practising planning and environmental law since being called to the Bar, following a career at the Environment Agency. His practice covers all aspects of the regulatory regime and its enforcement conducting cases both for and against regulators in the High Court and Court of Appeal, at Inquiries and in the criminal courts, across a wide range of areas, including: renewable energy and waste treatment schemes (particularly waste to energy anaerobic digestion), hazardous, clinical and radioactive waste disposal sites as well as cases concerning the trans-frontier shipment of waste, water resources management (Thames Water Resources Management Plan) and permitting offences. He advises industry, regulators and local authorities. Recent clients include Murco Petroleum (concerning the EU ETS), National Tyres and Autos, Lafarge (now Tarmac), Morrisons, Peel Land and Property Limited and Tamar Energy. He regularly represents developers, and local authorities and has extensive government agency experience including with the Environment Agency, DEFRA, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, Highways Agency and the Secretary of State.
His planning practice encompasses infrastructure projects, large urban extensions (e.g. South Somerset District Council, Castle Carey (2016)) residential housing development and large scale Inquiries concerning tall buildings in central London (Vauxhall Tower, No.1 and No.20 Blackfriars). Particular experience of enforcement Inquiries with substantial technical content and where planning and environment intersect (e.g. flood risk, noise, odour, and waste developments generally). Recently advised on planning and rights of light issues arising from a south east London mixed use development and on chargeable CIL taking into account ‘in-use buildings’ and CIL abatement following submission of an alternative scheme in Croydon.

Career

Appointed as ‘A” List Counsel on the Attorney General’s List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in 2012 and its predecessor panels.

A member of the Head Office Legal Team at the National Rivers Authority and then the Environment Agency, including a nine month secondment as a prosecutor, prior to being called to the Bar.

Languages

Russian.

Memberships

PEBA, UKELA, SEC.

Education

Bristol Grammar School; Liverpool John Moores University (LLB Hons).

Leisure

Hockey, cricket.