Leading Individuals

Planning and environment in Wales

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

Acting on its own, as well as frequently as part of a cohesive national offering alongside lawyers from other offices at the firm, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is well-positioned to provide 'practical and clear advice' to clients on both Welsh specific planning matters as well as on UK-wide mandates. 'Friendly and practical' senior associate Stephen Jefferson  now heads the team following Kee Evans' move in July 2022 to Foot Anstey and continues to focus on securing the relevant planning consents related to utilities, energy and transport projects, as well as having significant knowledge of the planning concerns which are unique to Wales as a result of its devolved status. Senior associate Gareth Davies , who co-heads the team alongside Jefferson, transferred from the firm's Birmingham office in August 2022 and adds further bandwidth in light of his strategic planning advice relating to data centre sectors and residential developments.

Practice head(s):

Stephen Jefferson


Other key lawyers:

Gareth Davies


Testimonials

‘The firm provides practical and clear advice tailored to the needs of the transaction.’

Stephen Jefferson – friendly and practical with excellent technical expertise.’

Key clients

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water


EDF Renewables


Welsh Government


Transport for Wales


GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)


Thames Water Utilities Limited


Network Rail Infrastructure Limited


University of Reading


Statkraft UK Ltd


Taylor Wimpey


Barratt David Wilson Homes


Morris Homes


Work highlights


Geldards LLP

Equally competent in both Welsh and English planning’ matters, both from an advisory and contentious perspective, the ‘very knowledgeable and customer focused’ team at Geldards LLP provides a ‘versatile service’ for public and private sector clients. ‘Outstanding’ team head Charles Felgate is ‘a very commercial and astute tactician’, ensuring that he is a popular choice among clients, including local authorities, on their highest-profile mandates, including as it relates to compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and Section 106 agreements. ‘Outstanding’ senior associate Tomos Phillips is ‘a wise head on young shoulders’, providing a very effective advice across a range of matters, including for both local authorities and objectors on CPO mandates, particularly in relation to highway schemes.

Practice head(s):

Charles Felgate


Other key lawyers:

Tomos Phillips; Gareth Aubrey


Testimonials

‘The team is very knowledgeable and customer focused in their approach. They have very good relations with the authorities in Wales responsible for planning and compulsory purchase and this relationship has given added value to the Council as a client.’  

The versatile team is deeply committed to work in Wales, and undertakes a substantial volume of planning work for the public sector in addition to their private clients.’

‘The team is able to get to grips with obscure legislative planning queries quickly and effectively and offer support in dealing with complex legal issues with a wide range of skills and specialisms.’

‘Really specialist expertise in a regional setting. Equally competent in both Welsh and English planning and cognate jurisdictions, which is unique.’

‘Charles Felgate provides outstanding support with a capable and meticulous eye for detail.’

‘The outstanding Charles Felgate has a tremendous breadth of knowledge.’ 

‘Charles Felgate is a very commercial and astute tactician, has great attention to detail and is good fun to work with, making him an invaluable member of the multi-disciplinary teams that major planning projects and cases involve.’ 

‘Tomos Phillips has also been outstanding.’

Key clients

Welsh Ministers


South Derbyshire County Council


Derby County Council


Ribble Valley District Council


Torfaen Borough Council


Bridgend County Borough Council


Pembrokeshire Coast National Park


Hygrove Holdings Limited


Snowdonia National Park Authority


Calderdale County Borough Council


Work highlights


  • Successfully defending Snowdonia National Park Authority in the Supreme Court against an application for declaration that a circa 400 home development within the National Park, approved in 1967 and subject to a declaration that the permission was extant in 1987, was still capable of further implementation.
  • Successfully representing the Welsh Government in the Court of Appeal against an application for a declaration sought in relation to whether development had commenced within the appropriate time limits in the Development Consent Order for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.
  • Advising Bridgend County Borough Council in relation to the compulsory purchase of land for a major regeneration of Porthcawl waterfront to provide 1000 new houses, leisure facilities, retail and a new school.

Acuity Law

At Acuity Law, team head Steve Morris  regularly advises the firm’s impressive roster of developer and investor clients on the planning concerns associated with their large-scale commercial property mandates. A number of consultant partners at the firm, including James Ryan, also handle standalone contentious and non-contentious planning matters in a self-employed capacity.




Practice head(s):

Steve Morris


Other key lawyers:

James Ryan; Stephen McColgan; Richard Voke; Robert Senior; Jennifer Butcher


Key clients

Boatfolk Marinas Limited


Hodge Bank Limited


Rightacres Property Company Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising Eden Living on the planning and environmental site issues in connection with the development of an innovative new private sector rented portfolio business in South Wales and the South West of England with an initial facility of £20m.
  • Acting for Private Energy Partners (Quinbrook affiliate) in their securing of exclusive development rights from renewable energy firm SIMEC Atlantis Energy to develop one of the largest battery storage systems in the UK.
  • Advice to Marshal (BVI based funder) in their funding of residential development sites within the UK on the planning permissions necessary to carry out the residential developments, including consideration of satisfaction of planning conditions, drafting and reviewing planning agreements under Section 106 and Section 278/38 and advice on CIL, SUDS and affordable housing obligations.

Capital Law Limited

Capital Law Limited provides 'very thorough advice' to a variety of stakeholders on planning and environmental issues associated with numerous major commercial property mandates handled by the firm. The recent arrival of noted environment lawyer Stephen Sykes  was a major coup for the firm, with his extensive environmental and climate change knowledge particularly relevant for several of the firm's large ongoing commercial property projects including for LanzaTech UK on its plans to build and commission the world’s first commercial-scale alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) production facility. Property head Leanne O’Brien has significant planning expertise as part of her broader transactional property offering.

Practice head(s):

Stephen Sykes; Leanne O’Brien


Other key lawyers:

Huw Thomas; Hannah Vosper; Tom Jones


Testimonials

‘They provide very thorough advice.’

Key clients

Yr Hadau (part of the Sero Group)


LanzaTech


University of South Wales


Ascona Group Holdings


The Royal Mint Ltd


Bridgend College


Genpower Ltd


Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (“RCT”)


Development Bank of Wales (DBW)


Pobl Group


Valleys to Coast


Cardiff Metropolitan University


Work highlights


  • Acted for CAPSE Limited, a specialist in testing and certifying power systems for low carbon technologies, on its acquisition of a former gas storage facility site, overcoming a number of environmental and planning challenges.
  • Acting for SSSI, a metal recycling company, with its proposed lease of a strategically important brownfield site. Issues addressed included limited environmental information, landlord sensitivity scenarios and the removal of waste stockpiles.
  • Acted for Cardiff Metropolitan University in response to a pre-commencement communication from a provider for the installation of telecommunications apparatus at one of their campuses.

Hugh James

Forming a part of the firm’s overarching commercial property offering, Hugh James has ‘lots of knowledge and expertise’ on the relevant planning and environmental issues often associated with transactions for public and private sector stakeholders. Senior associate Shelley Ikram is ‘extremely thorough and provides excellent commercial advice’, including in the context of advice to large scale consortiums and for developers on village green matters. Peter Hurn  co-heads the team, and as part of his work for house builder Barratt Homes on acquisitions throughout South Wales is regularly confronted with planning and environmental considerations.


Practice head(s):

Shelley Ikram (Head of Planning); Peter Hurn (Head of Environmental)


Other key lawyers:

Rachel Arentsen; James Guile


Testimonials

‘It is a great team with lots of knowledge and expertise.’

‘All the lawyers are really approachable and not afraid to provide relevant appropriate advice.’

Shelley Ikram is extremely thorough and provides excellent commercial advice.’

Key clients

Dandara Wales & West Limited


Ely Bridge Development Company Limited


Parc Eirin Development Limited


Llanmoor Homes


Persimmon Homes Limited


Bellway Homes PLC


Dwr Cymru Welsh Water


Brackley Investments Limited


BDW Trading Limited (Barratt Homes)


Tirion Group


Work highlights


  • Acting for Dandara Wales & West on all of its acquisitions for residential development in South Wales and the South West.
  • Acts for Bellway Homes Limited in connection with their acquisition of new sites for both the Wales and South West Divisions. and environmental considerations.
  • The firm acts for BDW Trading Limited (Barratt Homes) on nearly all of Barratt acquisitions throughout South Wales.