Anjoli Foster

Planning

Anjoli is consistently ranked as one of the top junior planning barristers in the country. She is ranked by Planning Magazine as the 2^nd ‘Top-Rated Junior Under 35’ and in the top 10 ‘Top Rated Juniors’. She was also selected by a panel of judges as one of The Planner’s Women of Influence. Chambers and Partners says: “Anjoli is able to seamlessly combine her enormous intellect, professional knowledge and ability with an extremely personable and approachable manner.”

Anjoli’s practice focuses on all aspects of planning law, including housing, commercial and retail, infrastructure, energy and enforcement work. She frequently appears in planning appeals and in the Planning Court. Her clients include a range of national and regional housebuilders and land promoters, central government, local planning authorities, and environmental groups.

Some of the notable high-profile cases Anjoli has been instructed on include:

• Stag Brewery, Richmond: acted in the significant public inquiry promoting 1,000 new homes, commercial uses, new green space and a new school on the site of the old Stag Brewery in Richmond, located at the finish line of the famous Oxford-Cambridge boat race. The Inspector agreed, amongst other things, that development of the brownfield site would create a “new heart” for Mortlake, and that 7.5% affordable housing was the maximum viable amount.
• Elephant Park, Southwark: appeared in a public inquiry promoting an 18-storet building providing Class E space on the final site within the award-winning Elephant Park in Southwark, London. The Inspector agreed with the design approach of developing an ‘exemplary counterpoint building’ in this location.
• Newcastle Quayside: appeared in the public inquiry, and subsequently the High Court and Court of Appeal, concerning a dispute over proposals for 289 apartments in a 14 storey building on the iconic Newcastle Quayside. The contentious matters particularly included quality of design, impact on heritage assets and living conditions.
• Use Class E and new permitted development rights: instructed by the government to defend the widely-discussed legal challenge to the amendments to the General Permitted Development Order and the Use Classes Order, which introduced new permitted development rights to build upwards and the new Use Class E.
• Holocaust Memorial, Westminster: represented the government in a legal challenge to the decision-making on the “called in” planning application for the UK Holocaust Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens.
• Brighton Marina: acted in the public inquiry into the proposed development of 1,000 residential units at the Brighton Marina, consisting of nine buildings ranging from 8 storeys to 28 storeys in height. The decision was called-in by the Secretary of State and was one of the first appeal decisions by the Secretary of State on the approach to the updated NPPF on design matters.
• Tower Hamlets: acted in a public inquiry promoting proposals for a 30-storey residential building and data centre in Tower Hamlets, London.
• Barnet House: a public inquiry into proposals for mixed residential and commercial development in Whetstone town centre, London, consisting of several buildings, including a 14 storey tower.
• Tenterden, Kent: promoted a scheme for 145 houses, country park and sports pitches on Greenfield land. Successfully represented the developer at the three-week planning inquiry, the legal challenge to the grant of permission, and the associated public rights of way inquiry.
• Surge of Power (Jen Reid) statue, Bristol: represented the appellant in an appeal into the installation of a statue of a black female protestor, following the toppling of the statue of slave-trader Edward Colston. The appeal raised highly topical issues of contested heritage and diversity and inclusivity in public spaces.
• Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham: appeared in this public inquiry which was the first appeal to assess the effect of COVID-19 on housing land supply. This is listed as one of the top 10 appeal decisions of 2020 by Planning Magazine.
• Energy National Policy Statements: acted in the climate change challenge to the government’s review of the National Policy Statements which determine how decisions are made on proposals for large fossil fuel development.
• Great Wolf Water Park, Bicester: acted in this significant three-week public inquiry concerning proposals for the country’s largest water park. Due to public interest this inquiry was streamed live on YouTube, receiving over 1,000 viewers per day.
• Kennington, Lambeth: promoted over 250 residential units, including a 29-storey tower, in central London, on behalf of the developer at a planning inquiry.
• Hillthorn Farm, Sunderland: appeared at an inquiry involving proposals for a gasification plant, which resulted in over 10,000 objections from local residents and was commented on in Prime Minister’s Questions in February 2020.
• Mornings Mill Farm, Wealden: represented the developer in an inquiry promoting proposals for comprehensive development including 700 houses, 8,600 sqm of employment floorspace, a medical centre and a school.
• Haughley Park, Mid Suffolk: acted on behalf of the owner of the Grade I listed Haughley Park house and grounds, concerning the ‘agent of change’ principle and the effect of future development on the existing wedding and music festival business.
• Imperial House, Windsor and Maidenhead: promoted a major mixed-use scheme, including over 200 residential units and 16,389 sqm of office floorspace in a planning inquiry.
• Cross examination of Planning Inspectors: represented the developer in a rare legal case where the High Court was successfully persuaded to require a Planning Inspector to be cross-examined in relation to decisions taken at a planning appeal.

Local Government

With a strong track record of advising and representing local authorities, we offer expert legal support across a diverse range of areas and issues. Recognised for our clear, pragmatic legal guidance and strong advocacy, we are well-placed to support local government bodies in meeting complex and evolving challenges.

Cross-practice

Landmark's barristers often work at the intersection of our core practice areas; bringing a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to bear on a particular dispute or issue facing a client.

Our focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome for our client. By viewing the client's objectives in a holistic way - and not purely through the lens of one rigidly-defined legal area - we deliver the best possible advice and representation in complex matters that engage multiple specialist areas of law. 

Whether it's providing support as an individual cross-practice barrister or a cross-disciplinary team of Landmark counsel, we are able to draw on an outstanding array of complementary skillsets and knowledge bases. This often achieves a better result than instructing multiple barristers from different specialist sets. This also improves the quality of client care through increased levels of communication, quicker response times, and a coordinated approach to clerking and fees, made possible by our team-based cross-practice approach.

Please contact our practice management team for more information.

Highways and Rights of Access