Harriet Townsend > Cornerstone Barristers > London, England > Barrister Profile
Cornerstone Barristers Offices
2-3 GRAY'S INN SQUARE
LONDON
WC1R 5JH
England
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Harriet Townsend
Position
Planning; environmental law; local government; property.
Career
Harriet specialises in planning, environmental, local government and related property law. Her clients include individuals, local authorities, solicitors, planning consultants and developers working throughout England and Wales, whom she represents at inquiry, tribunal and in the High Court.
Her recent work includes: promoting contentious compulsory purchase orders – as well as handling complex disputes over compensation; promoting significant and sensitive heritage projects; advising on recent and proposed changes to the CIL Regulations; advising on the Habitats Directive following the People over Wind ruling of the ECJ; objecting to a village green application; promoting basement proposals in central London; and resisting a major windfarm proposal for Powys County Council at appeal in March 2018.
Recent cases include: For Suffolk Coastal District resisting the appeal by Persimmon Homes at Bell Lane, Kesgrave [APP/J3530/W/16/3160194] – on 20 July 2018 the Inspector found in favour of the Council’s assessment of housing land supply, and the substantial conflict with the development plan strategy, so dismissing the appeal.
Accredited mediator.
Publications of note: one of the many contributing editors (as local government law specialist) to Jowitt’s Dictionary of English Law; contributor to Cornerstone on Councillor Conduct (published 2015).
Called to the Bar in 1992.
Memberships
Planning and Environment Bar Association (PEBA); UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA); Compulsory Purchase Association; Justice.
Education
Oxford Brookes University (1988 BSc Mathematics and Economics 1st class); University of East Anglia (PGCE Mathematics teaching to A-level).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Environment
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 4London Bar > Planning
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2Harriet Townsend – Cornerstone Barristers ‘Harriet is always prompt, organised and professional. Her advocacy is calm and well-structured, always confident that she is well-prepared and that she will deal with matters as they arise.’
With ‘strong barristers at every level of experience‘, Cornerstone Barristers is involved in ‘very high-profile planning challenges‘, handling cases from the inquiry stage up to the Supreme Court. The set’s ‘real expertise in planning law‘, complemented by its proficiency in public law, property, energy, and local government law, makes it a ‘growing force in planning‘. Compulsory purchase and compensation cases is another area of expertise for the chambers. Thomas Cosgrove KC, leading Ruchi Parekh, successfully overturned a High Court decision on behalf of Mid Suffolk District Council in R (Thurston Parish Council) v Mid Suffolk DC and Bloor Homes, a significant Court of Appeal case within the planning arena on the distinction between interpretation and and application of planning policy. Several members have been involved in the Sunnica Energy Farm nationally significant infrastructure project; Michael Bedford KC appeared in the development consent order examination on behalf of Suffolk County Council, with Edward Grant and Parekh representing West Suffolk Council at the ongoing hearings. Harriet Townsend led for the local authority in R (Finch, on behalf of the Weald Action Group) v Surrey CC, arguing that, when considering an application for the commercial extraction of oil, it is not necessary to conduct an assessment of the emissions and climate impact of any subsequently manufactured products, as any such impact would not be an effect of development.