The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > North West > Planning and environment

At Pinsent Masons LLP the planning team, which is led by Mike Pocock, acts for developers, public sector clients and landowners, as well as construction, energy and water companies. It is engaged on infrastructure and development projects and is experienced in education sector work. Compulsory purchase orders and development consent orders are also a key area of expertise and it handles contentious planning cases. Associate Elizabeth Nuttall is experienced in development planning mandates and senior associate Melanie Grimshaw is 'excellent'. Legal director Claire Gregory heads the environmental team which handles contentious and non-contentious work for clients across the water, energy, waste, chemicals, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Clyde & Co LLP's 'fantastic environment team' is engaged on the full range of environmental work and stands out for its expertise in environmental crime, where the team advises on Environment Agency and local authority investigations, prosecutions, and enforcement actions. The team is regularly engaged by corporate clients and insurers. Former Environment Agency prosecutor Rod Hunt has 'valuable expertise' and heads the team. Chris Morrison leads the safety, security, health and environmental regulatory group and senior associate Anna Willetts handles environmental criminal defence work.

The planning department at Shoosmiths LLP is a 'focused and energetic team which is pro-active in its management of cases'. It is instructed by public and private sector clients on a range of residential, commercial, mixed-use and renewable energy schemes. The team is also adept at handling compulsory acquisition, compensation and urban regeneration mandates, and is experienced in highways work. The team is led by Kathryn Jump, who 'gives clear, effective and practical advice', and Lisa Tye, who is 'very effective'. Senior associate Samantha Grange is also a key figure in the department.

At Weightmans LLP the planning team is engaged on major residential and urban extension projects for local authority clients and it is adept at compulsory purchase work. Energy projects are also a key focus. The environmental team is instructed by water and resources clients on regulatory, compliance and enforcement issues. Manchester-based environmental specialist Simon Colvin leads the firm’s environment and utility teams and is ably supported by associate Julie Goulbourne who is a specialist contentious lawyer. Associate David Mathias heads the planning team in Manchester, while Lee Gordon, who is based across the Leeds and Manchester offices, leads the planning and infrastructure team.

The team at Winckworth Sherwood LLP is experienced in contentious and non-contentious planning mandates and is active across compulsory purchase, environmental town and village greens, assets of community value and highway issues. The team is engaged by developer clients on residential schemes and is instructed by a raft of local authority clients on regeneration projects. Team head Colette McCormack is 'excellent' on planning and environmental instructions, and is ably supported by senior associate Joanne Hannah.

Aaron & Partners LLP offers specialist expertise in energy work, minerals and waste planning mandates. Energy specialist David Harries heads the planning, environment, energy and regulatory team which features Richard Forrester, who is experienced across mines, minerals, waste planning, complex land and agricultural work, environmental licensing and regulation; David Delaney, who is experienced in planning and compulsory purchase law; and senior associate Keith McKinney who is instructed on planning and environmental matters and is experienced in energy work and environmental crime.

Addleshaw Goddard handles a raft of planning and environment work. On the environmental side, which is led by recently promoted partner Michelle Headridge, the team handles contentious and non-contentious matters for clients across the real estate, retail, consumer, manufacturing, waste, energy and utility sectors. The team advises on the environmental aspects of real estate, corporate and finance transactions and handles criminal environmental investigation and defence work. Headridge is experienced in the chemicals and waste sectors and is ably supported by managing associate Joanne Holbrook. The planning team in Manchester has been bolstered by the arrival of Emily Williams from Irwin Mitchell.

DLA Piper UK LLP's planning department is a 'close knit team which is always responsive'. It handles the full range of planning work and is regularly engaged on high-profile infrastructure and energy projects, acting for public and private sector clients. Recently promoted legal director Sophie Stewart specialises in development planning and compulsory purchase and is increasingly involved in the planning aspects of major regeneration and infrastructure projects. Leeds-based Andrew Batterton heads the Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool-based planning teams.

Gateley Plc is instructed by housing industry clients on the planning aspects of residential developments and it is engaged on town centre redevelopment schemes. Common land, town and village greens, highways, complex enforcement, environmental permitting, assets of community value,  planning agreements, applications, compulsory purchase and regeneration are key areas of experience. National planning head Andrew Piatt is ably supported by legal director Mark Iveson, who handles a range of infrastructure, residential and retail projects, as well as compulsory purchase work.

Hill Dickinson LLP's planning team is regularly engaged on significant housing and housing-led mixed-use schemes, and also has experience in commercial development, retail, energy and infrastructure projects. The team is also able to advise on environmental issues relating to development projects. Planning head Grant Anderson's expertise spans the housing, development, retail, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Mills & Reeve LLP's environment team is engaged on regeneration projects, contaminated land and asbestos work, and also handles transactions involving petrol filling stations and waste management sites. The manufacturing, education and health sectors are key areas of activity for the team. Consultant Keith Davidson, who heads the team, is an 'expert' and handles brownfield regeneration projects, environmental insurance, Part 2A proceedings and is often engaged on corporate transactions with environmental aspects.

The regulatory team at Pannone Corporate LLP is active across waste, water pollution, environmental permitting breaches and breach of planning obligations mandates. Associate partner Rhian Greaves, who recently joined from Clyde & Co LLP, handles contentious environmental matters and has expertise across waste management, water pollution, noise complaints and  asbestos management. Consultant Tristan Meears-White and director Bill Dunkerley, who joined in 2019 from Keoghs LLP, are also key contacts.

TLT's planning department is instructed by local authorities and public sector clients on major regeneration and infrastructure projects. Associate Debbie Reynolds, who heads the team in Manchester, is a compulsory purchase specialist and is regularly instructed on regeneration and infrastructure schemes for promoting authorities and developers through joint venture arrangements.