Francis Taylor Building

Since joining Chambers in 2014, Alexander has developed a busy specialist practice at the planning, environment and local government bar.

Recent notable cases which he has been involved in include:

• Acting for Thanet District Council, who successfully defended an appeal by Gladman Developments seeking outline planning permission for 115 residential dwellings on the basis that it would not provide safe and suitable pedestrian access, would cause harm to the character and appearance of the landscape, and would have an adverse and unsubstantiated impact on BMV land.
• Climate change litigation, including R (Finch) v Surrey CC [2024] UKSC 20 and Friends of the Earth Ltd v SSLUHC [2024] EWHC 2349 (Admin), where Alexander acted as junior counsel for West Cumbria Mining Ltd.
• Acting (as junior to Andrew Tait KC) for North Somerset Council in the promotion of a CPO and SRO for the Banwell Bypass, both of which were confirmed by the Secretary of State for Transport.
• Acting for West Oxfordshire District Council, who successfully resisted an appeal against non-determination of a scheme for 102 dwellings on the grounds that it would have a severe impact on the highway network, represent poor design, and conflict with the policy requirement for comprehensive development of a strategic allocation.
• Acting for Cotswold District Council, who successfully resisted an appeal against their decision to refuse planning permission for a truck stop in the AONB along the A417 near Cirencester.
• Acting for Buckinghamshire Council in two enforcement appeals regarding complicated mixed use sites at a 3-day and 8-day inquiries. Both appeals were dismissed with an award of costs made against the Appellants.
• Acting for the claimant in a 2-day s. 113 claim (Norton St Philip PC v Mendip DC [2022] EWHC 3432 (Admin)), which successfully challenged the adoption of a local plan on grounds relating to misinterpretation of policy and a failure to consider reasonable alternatives through the sustainability appraisal.
• Advising and acting for HS2 (as junior to Morag Ellis KC) in a number of judicial reviews concerning appeals under Schedule 17 to the High Speed Rail (London to West Midlands) Act 2017, which were either refused permission, or dismissed by the High Court in Buckinghamshire Council v SST [2022] EWHC 1923 (Admin).

Alexander welcomes instructions to act individually or as part of a team across all of Chambers' areas of practice.

Called 2012, Middle Temple.

Alexander holds a first class BA degree in History from the University of Manchester. Alexander completed his GDL with commendation and achieved the highest mark in the year for modules on Judicial Review and Company Law on the BPTC.

He was awarded the Queen Mother's Scholarship and the Blackstone Exhibition Award from Middle Temple.

During pupillage, he won the UKELA Senior Mooting Competition, judged by Lord Carnwath.

Alexander is a keen cyclist and has toured across Slovenia, Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland. He also enjoys skiing and sailing.

He is passionate about food and devotes much of his spare time to the pursuit of all things culinary.