With a planning background, Stephen was called to the Bar in 1983. He has practised predominantly in the field of planning and related subjects since then. His extensive experience in planning includes the whole range of housing development (including major new settlements up to 20,000 houses) and energy development.
Those related subjects include control of advertisements (with extensive Court experience including numerous reported High Court cases), compulsory purchase and compensation (including major regeneration schemes), highways, commons and other local government matters.
Stephen’s work has involved acting for landowners and developers as well as extensively for the public sector. The work includes advisory work and appearing at a range of inquiries as well as in the lower and higher courts. He is therefore particularly used to working as part of a team in relation to such projects.
He has advised Registration Authorities, sat as an Inspector and appeared at inquiries on behalf of applicants and objectors in relation to Village Green applications. He has also appeared in the High Court in relation to these matters.
Stephen is very familiar with the Welsh planning policy context, having been involved in several major development schemes there. Additionally, he has gained extensive experience of other jurisdictions in the above fields including the Isle of Man, the Cayman Isles and Gibraltar.
He is recognised as one of the leading juniors in legal directories. Stephen is described as “one of the best inquiry advocates around, who serves his clients and has a good feel for identifying the bones of a case,” Chambers & Partners, 2008 and "very reliable, thorough and quietly persuasive - he's easy to deal with and always earns praise from clients," Chambers & Partners, 2010. Legal 500 states that Stephen "attracts commendation for his quietly effective approach and bright, friendly demeanour."
Stephen gained his LLB (Hons) at Warwick University and went on to obtain an M.A. in environmental planning (MRTPI course) from Nottingham University in 1981.
He is a member of the Planning and Environment Bar Association.
01 Jan 2007
01 Jan 2007
07 Dec 2006
29 Jun 2006
01 Jan 2006
06 May 2004
17 Jan 2012
14 Jan 2011
