01 12 2025
Newlink Business Park
0
Graeme has a substantial track record of representing clients at Planning Inquiries, Hearings and Examinations. His expertise spans a broad range of planning issues including residential and commercial development, heritage matters, transport infrastructure, education facilities, employment sites including logistics and R&D, retail schemes, and large-scale infrastructure projects. He is also regularly involved in complex Local Plan Examinations, Development Consent Order Examinations, and has considerable experience in enforcement appeals, compulsory purchase proceedings, and applications for Certificates of Lawful Use and Development.
Graeme has long been recognised in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 and has regularly appeared in Planning Magazine’s Top Rated Planning Silks list.
Graeme is currently instructed on a range of matters including: the promotion/ appeal of several housing developments in England, including in the Green Belt and National Landscapes (AoNB); a new mixed-use community development of c.500 dwellings and a local centre on MoD land in Wiltshire; Phase 2 of a 130,000m2 “big-box” logistics development; other industrial developments; Build to Rent and Retirement Living schemes; the redevelopment of a Police HQ site; and several Local Plan Examinations.
Graeme is a highly experienced Public Inquiry advocate who acts for developers and landowners, local government and other interested parties. His advisory and appeal work covers a broad range of planning issues including: residential (including 5 year land supply issues) and commercial development, heritage matters, transport infrastructure, education facilities, employment sites including logistics and R&D, retail schemes, and large-scale infrastructure projects. His Inquiry work has involved a considerable number of appeals recovered or called in by the Secretary of State. Graeme also frequently represents clients at Appeal Hearings. He acts both for and against local planning authorities at Local Plan Examinations, appears at Development Consent Order Examinations, and also has considerable experience in enforcement appeals, compulsory purchase proceedings, and applications for Certificates of Lawful Use and Development.
Graeme provides strategic advice on the preparation of development schemes and technical advice on the expert evidence required to support applications and appeals. He regularly works with large teams on projects, including expert witnesses in a wide range of disciplines.
Graeme has long been recognised in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 and has regularly appeared in Planning Magazine’s Top Rated Planning Silks list.
On-going matters include:
Graeme is currently instructed on a range of matters including: the promotion/ appeal of several housing developments in England, including in the Green Belt and National Landscapes (AoNB); a new mixed-use community development of c.500 dwellings and a local centre on MoD land in Wiltshire; Phase 2 of a 130,000m2 “big-box” logistics development; other industrial developments; Build to Rent and Retirement Living schemes; the redevelopment of a Police HQ site; and several Local Plan Examinations.
Graeme has considerable compulsory purchase experience, in particular at Inquiry, where he has promoted CPOs for a wide variety of developments including: housing; an academy school; highways schemes; and regeneration projects (including: Liverpool, Preston, Slough and Blackburn). Graeme has also acted for objectors to CPOs, for example in relation to protecting commercial interests and heritage assets, including successfully opposing Manchester’s CPO of the former London Road Fire Station.
Examples of Graeme's commercial/retail work include the following cases: Newlink Business Park; Gayford Road; Project Newton; Earl Road Handforth Dean; Barracks Mill.
Examples of Graeme's development consent orders work include the following cases: Sizewell C and East Anglia One North Off Shore Wind Farm.
Examples of Graeme's Section 106 and CIL work include the following cases: Gayford Road, Lemans Barn Farm, Broke Hill.
Examples of Graeme's development plans work:
Examples of Graeme's Green Belt work include the following cases: Longridge, Great Moreton Hall and Treetops Guildford.
Examples of Graeme's heritage work include the following cases: Guildford Cathedral; Great Moreton Hall, National Express Depot Stansted, Westleaze and the Hoover Building.
Examples of Graeme's highways work include the following cases: Newlink Business Park; National Express Depot Stansted and Moor Street.
Examples of Graeme's infrastructure work include the following cases: Sizewell C and East Anglia One North Off Shore Wind Farm.
Examples of Graeme's minerals and waste work include the following case: Nottinghamshire Minerals Plan.
Examples of Graeme's planning appeals, inquiries and hearings may be found on his Planning page.
Examples of Graeme’s residential work include: Broadbridge Heath, Guildford Cathedral, Westridge Farm, Invicta Barracks, Alfold Crossways, Lemans Barn Farm, Former Wyevale Garden Centre Alfold, Yapton, the Hoover Building.
Graeme has been instructed on a number of high-profile Public Inquiries involving environmental matters (including: Dibden Bay, USAF Upper Heyford, Culworth Solar Farm and Broadbridge Farm) and Examinations in Public of Local and Minerals Plans (including the Durham County Plan and the Nottinghamshire Minerals Plan), involving the assessment and scrutiny of Sustainability Appraisals etc. He regularly advises on Environmental Impact Assessments and the content of Environmental Statements. Graeme also has expertise in defending environmental prosecutions in relation to matters such as waste disposal and pollution.
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.
Very commercially astute and a real problem solver."
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Graeme is a graduate of King’s College London where he read Law. After graduation he attended the Inns of Court School of Law, Bar Vocational Course, and worked as a part-time lecturer in Constitutional Law at King’s College London.
Graeme regularly gives papers at Landmark seminars and has conducted seminars on Planning Law at University College London, on the M.Phil. Town and Country Planning Course, lectured for the Local Government Group, Central Law Training, the RTPI, PINS training week and various other organisations. He also provides training for council members and officers.
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