Our expert planning team helps you get the permission you need to move forward with your development projects and reduce the risk of legal challenges. We provide practical guidance on all aspects of planning, highways and environmental law, as well the correct licences for your business activities.
Planning law is notoriously complex, with changing legislation and policy continuously seeming to shift the goalposts. The success of your development project depends on securing the right approvals. It’s vital to get the right advice at the outset to minimise the risk of delays or problems.
Our specialist planning, environment and licensing lawyers have a strong track record, steering you through what can seem like a maze of regulations and requirements.
We find robust solutions for your specific needs, helping you:
- Navigate the planning system – advice on all aspects of planning law, from advising on prospects of success and legally auditing your planning application through to representing you on appeal or defending permissions.
- Ensure environmental compliance – advice on which regulations are relevant to your development project and how to avoid issues with implementation.
- Secure the right licences – advice on what licences you need for your business activities, such as selling alcohol and putting on public entertainment.
Planning, environmental and licensing legal advice
We offer commercial guidance on the full range of planning, environment and licensing matters affecting your development projects and business activities.
Navigate the planning system
With an in-depth knowledge of the legal and policy framework governing planning decision-making, we help you develop a planning strategy that suits your development needs. This includes:
Pre-development planning advice
- Advising when planning permission is necessary and the appropriate consenting route
- Advising on permitted development rights
- Preparing development constraint reports and advising on development prospects having regard to site ownership and local policy
Planning applications and agreements
- Putting together and reviewing pre-app applications, planning applications, certificate of lawfulness applications and all forms of planning appeals
- Preparing and negotiating planning and infrastructure agreements, including section 106 agreements and road and sewer adoption agreements
Project lifetime planning advice
- Providing strategic advice throughout the planning process to mitigate the risks to your project and optimise development outcomes
- Working as part of multidisciplinary built environment teams on major projects
- Advising on the Community Infrastructure Levy
- Advising on the interpretation of planning conditions and planning obligations
Enforcement and legal challenges
- Dealing with planning enforcement issues
- Defending your planning permission from legal challenge
- Advice on judicial reviews and other forms of statutory challenge, whether you need to defend your planning permission or require advice on opposing a new development
Ensure environmental compliance
As environmental regulations become more stringent, these are an integral part of the planning process.
We advise on the relevant regulations for your activities, to help you secure planning permission and avoid future legal challenges. This includes advice on:
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Biodiversity net gain
- Nutrient neutrality
- Net-zero requirements
Secure the right licences for your business
It's important to make sure you have the correct licenses for your activities for the smooth running of your business.
We advise on:
- What type of licence you need, what it allows you to do and how to apply
- The licensing review and appeal process
- How to vary your licence
- Licensing enforcement issues
- Licensing for caravan sites
Who our planning lawyers help
We serve a range of clients on planning, highways, environment and licensing legal issues. This spans local authorities, landowners, developers and social housing providers.
We also provide specialist legal support across a number of key sectors, working closely with colleagues across the firm for joined-up advice tailored to your world. This includes:
Planning law experts with a commercial focus
Our “well rounded” planning team is recognised in leading legal directory, The Legal 500. This highlights our expertise in residential developments, alongside specialisms across a number of sectors for both contentious and non-contentious planning and licensing matters.
Our lawyers have an in-depth knowledge of both the planning system and local government law – with the ability to view this from all perspectives. Our Head of Planning, Hanna Virta, has a background in strategic planning, having previously worked for leading national planning law firms, as well as a large unitary authority in a delivery-focused role, further bolstering our breadth of experience.
This expertise is reflected in the positive feedback we receive regularly from our clients, with whom we build strong, long-lasting relationships.
What our clients say
"They behave as though they are part of our team and not as standalone individuals - this encourages better engagement and participation in all matters."
“Tozers are a firm I can turn to and always trust and rely on their professionalism. Nothing is too much trouble for them and their professionalism and communication skills are second to none. Their knowledge on planning matters is immense and encyclopaedic.”
Who our planning lawyers help
- Helping two South West unitary authorities unlock sites for development by drafting and negotiating section 106 agreements for schemes of all sizes and scales, including sustainable urban expansion areas. This varied and rewarding work includes advice on nutrient neutrality, biodiversity net gain and other bespoke mitigation measures.
- Supporting another South West authority with the end stages of land assembly, plus the development and implementation of a delivery strategy for a landscape-led, mixed-use garden community
- Advising a National Park Authority on the full suite of planning and public law matters from consenting to enforcement and implementation issues.
- Regularly providing strategic planning advice to a number of leading national Park operators, helping de-risk their developments and optimise outcomes, whether through certificate of lawfulness applications or detailed planning.
- Helping a manufacturer defend their site from compulsory purchase, in connection with a DCO for a Carbon Capture Facility near London.
- Providing co-counsel planning services to national and international law firms and built environment consultancies without planning legal capability or needing additional ad hoc planning legal resource.
- Supporting the with complex planning and development agreements requiring specialist input.
- Supporting the Real Estate team with planning due diligence and drafting and negotiating planning terms, including overage, in option agreement and sale and purchase agreements.
Find out more
Contact our specialist planning lawyers to discuss how we can help you obtain planning permission for your residential, holiday and leisure development proposals.
Speak to a member of our experienced team today: call us directly or complete our online form.