Birketts LLP has an 'innovative and creative' planning and environmental law group that has a stellar client base of national and regional housebuilders, local authorities, and private businesses in sectors such as agriculture, waste, chemicals, minerals, and transport, as well as infrastructure clients including Northumbrian Water. Tom Newcombe in Cambridge (who 'always has a practical solution to any issue') and the 'always attentive and professional' Deborah Sharples in Ipswich are the lead partners. Legal directors Nicola Doole and Nikki Fonseka, and senior associate Chloe Glason are also active in the practice. Fonseka handles planning obligations and planning enforcement matters, while Doole has vast experience in negotiating complex section 106 agreements.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Tom Newcombe is my ‘go to’ planning lawyer and always has a practical solution to any issue, no matter how complex.’
'Tom Newcombe - always available to help, even if it is just a chat. Approachable and affordable.'
‘Deborah Sharples is excellent, always makes herself available and always attentive, and professional’
‘Birketts provide a fully comprehensive 'London' service. This includes the very able Planning and Environment team who are innovative and creative in their approach to client issues. Their commercial knowledge and client engagement are excellent.’
‘Deborah Sharples is a standout practitioner whose attention to detail and strategic skills are evident from the start. An excellent communicator.’
‘Birketts has been invaluable in their knowledge of new and developing areas of environmental legislation and their experience of applying it to our commercial negotiations. What made Birketts stand out in the tendering process was their ability to foster strong and sympathic working relationships with our new business and their confidence in working through tough negotiations.’
‘We work predominantly with Deborah Sharples who delivers a highly personalised service which is efficient, timely and managed in a very pleasant and collaborative way.'
'Every member of the team is incredibly personable, which makes this firm incredibly effective and also a pleasure to work with.'
Key clients
- Hopkins Homes Limited
- Vistry Group
- Countryside Partnerships (now part of Vistry Group)
- Brentwood Borough Council
- Breckland District Council
- Crest Nicholson PLC
- Hill Residential
- Mersea Homes Limited
- Welcome Break Services PLC
- Persimmon Homes
Work highlights
- Advising Welcome Break Services on all the highway and rights of way agreements/consents/licences to be entered into in relation to a new motorway service station on the A1(M)
- Advised Countryside Properties (UK) Limited and L&Q New Homes Limited and London and Quadrant Housing Trust regarding the cross-boundary redevelopment of Beam Park Dagenham, which has been uplifted to include 4,000 homes; two primary schools and nurseries (Use Class D1); a new railway station; and supporting uses including retail, healthcare, and a multi-faith worship space.
- Advising Brentwood Borough Council (including at hearings, negotiations and regarding a management plan) following the service of an abatement notice on Thames Water concerning a sewage treatment works.
Lawyers
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Leading partners
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Leading associates
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Nicola Doole
Chloe Glason
Practice head
Tom Newcombe; Deborah Sharples
Other key lawyers
Nicola Doole; Nikki Fonseka; Chloe Glason