John Steel KC > Chambers of Charlie Cory-Wright KC and Richard Harwood KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
39 Essex Chambers Offices
39 Essex Chambers
81 CHANCERY LANE
LONDON
WC2A 1DD
England
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John Steel KC
Position
Specialisms include: planning and environmental law, public law, judicial review, compulsory purchase and compensation, aviation and licensing. High Court litigation and public inquiries; CPOs and regeneration; cases of interest: Premier division Football Stadium developments, Birmingham International Airport expansion, Heathrow third runway, Coventry Airport, Farnborough TAG Airport expansion, Gatwick Airport, Bushell v Newcastle Living Justices [2006] HL, Luton TWA Guided Busway, R (Medway Council) v Sec of State for Transport, R (Mount Cook) v Westminster City Council, R (Jones) v Mansfield BC, R (Governors of Langley Park School) v Bromley LBC, Llanishen Reservoir development and JRs Cardiff, Ashford expansion, Telford opencast, waste and retail developments, Newcastle and Sunderland housing, Albert Court Residents v Westminster County Council (Albert Hall licensing).
Career
Called 1978, Gray’s Inn; Silk 1993; Bencher Gray’s Inn; Recorder; CEDR-accredited mediator. Trustee Mission Aviation Fellowship; Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust; Air League; Blenheim Palace Trusts. Chairman Durham University Strategic Development Board.
Languages
French.
Memberships
ALBA; PEBA; FRGS; FRAeS; FRSA.
Education
Durham University (1976 BSc Hons Chemistry); 1978 moots prize Gray’s Inn.
Leisure
Skiing, walking, flying, mountaineering.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Aviation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2London Bar > Planning
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 239 Essex Chambers is a ‘premier set‘ for planning matters, demonstrating a ‘variety of seniority and a breadth of knowledge‘. Its members display ‘real strength in depth across the board‘, advising on rural development, urban regeneration, housing development and community infrastructure, as well as attending local plan examinations and appearing at both large and small-scale planning inquiries. The set has broad expertise across the transport sector from roads, airports and seaports to railways, tramways and bus ways, and various members, including Richard Wald KC, James Strachan KC and Jonathan Darby continue to be involved in the HS2 railway project. Strachan KC is also acting for Luton Airport on its expansion, leading Victoria Hutton, and with John Steel KC representing Luton Borough Council. Richard Harwood OBE KC appeared in the Supreme Court, acting in Swindon BC v SSHCLG, a leading case on the meaning of highway, the scope of planning conditions and the interpretation of a planning permission. Christiaan Zwart successfully promoted the development of The Brick Veil Mosque in Preston over a two week inquiry; the application for planning permission was called-in by the Secretary of State as it raised National Policy, listed building and neighbourhood plan issues.