‘Assisted by a superb team of clerks’, the members of Francis Taylor Building are frequently instructed by the government, public authorities, land owners and private individuals on an array of agriculture matters, especially village greens and highways disputes. Richard Honey KC acted for Natural England in Natural England v Cooper, a Court of Appeal case that established the public authority had the power to seek an injunction against a farmer. Morag Ellis KC appeared in an inquiry into an application for the release and replacement of common land at Swansea. Ned Westaway leads another junior in R (British Horse Society) v Cornwall Council, a judicial review of the council’s refusal to register applications for definitive map modification orders.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Work Department
- Planning
- Environment
- Highways, rights of way, commons and village greens
- Compensation, rating and land valuation
- Public and local government law
- Land and property law
Position
Ned is a highly regarded lawyer who accepts instructions in a wide variety of work, in particular across all areas of planning, environmental and highways law.
He is consistently rated as a leading barrister by Chambers and the Legal 500 in three categories: planning law, environmental law and agricultural & rural affairs. He was named as Planning and Environmental Junior of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2022.
Ned regularly appears in the High Court and the Court of Appeal and has appeared in the Supreme Court on four occasions – twice as advocate (for the appellant in CPRE Kent v SSCLG [2021] UKSC 36; [2021] 1 WLR 4168 and for the second respondent in R (Lancashire CC) v SSEFRA [2019] UKSC 58; [2021] AC 194.
Ned is on the Attorney General’s A Panel of counsel and is the immediate past Chair of the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA). Ned is standing counsel for the Campaign for National Parks. He regularly undertakes work pro bono and is accredited to take work on a direct public access basis. Ned is Honorary Associate Professor at UCL’s Centre for Law and the Environment. He is also a trustee of the Organic Research Centre and a member of PEBA and ALBA.
Career
Called to the Bar 2009.
Memberships
- UKELA Chair (2021)
- PEBA
- ALBA
Education
- Winner, UKELA Lord Slynn of Hadley senior mooting competition (2009 and 2010), on both occasions before Carnwath LJ
- Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln's Inn (2008)
- LLM (environmental laws), University of London (2007)
- DMH Stallard Prize for the best results on the Common Professional Examination (distinction) University of Sussex (2006)
- BA Classics (first class degree), UCL (2004), recognised on the Dean's List
- Brighton, Hove and Sussex VI Form College
- Lewes Priory School
Content supplied by Francis Taylor Building
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Counsel are assisted by a superb team of clerks under the leadership of Paul Coveney.'
- 'FTB Chambers has an excellent group of Planning & Environment barristers with a wide range of experience and a willingness to assist wherever possible.'
- 'Chambers are incredibly knowledgeable in all areas of planning.'
- 'Clerks at FTB are great.'