Practice Summary
Reuben Taylor QC specialises in all aspects of Planning, Environmental, Compulsory Purchase and Compensation Law. He is joint Head of Chambers at Landmark. He was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1990 and took silk in 2014.
He practices throughout England and Wales and acts for many leading developers as well as central Government, local authorities and individuals. He has particular expertise in the High Court and Court of Appeal, and in advisory work and advocacy on planning appeals.
He has developed a particularly strong reputation for dealing with noise, road traffic, air quality and other technical environmental impact issues.
Reuben is listed as a leading silk in planning by Chambers & Partners 2022: “He has a tremendous ability to cut through to the key issues and present an incisive argument.” “Reuben has an excellent legal brain coupled with great commercial nous.” “He is bright and incisive – a great strategic thinker.”; 2021: “He’s great on technical matters and he understands the methodologies which underlie that work”; 2020: “with a highly regarded High Court practice that sees him instructed in a number of high-profile cases.” He is described as “a very user-friendly barrister and always on the ball producing clear, expert advice and guidance.” “He has a very analytical mind and is very good at cutting through extraneous stuff and getting to the point very quickly”. The Legal 500 2022 states “Reuben is genuinely first-class. He is always brilliantly prepared and thorough. He cuts through to the chase and delivers on-point, commercially astute legal advice. Reuben is an outstanding advocate both in court and in the inquiry room and combines a first-class mind with real approachability. He has a great sense of humour and is a pleasure to work with.”; 2021: “As a silk, he is absolutely top of the tree”; 2020: “Very commercially astute and practical in his advice.”
Commercial Development: Reuben has extensive experience in the commercial and retail fields. He has been advising the development partners at Brent Cross in relation to its redevelopment, he regularly acts and advises Hammerson. He also acts for Tesco, Sainsburys, Lidl and other retailers. He was successful in one of the leading cases on competing schemes: R. (on the application of Hawksworth Securities Plc) v Peterborough City Council [2016]. Reuben also successfully defended the grant of consent on behalf of developers in WM Morrisons Supermarket Plc v Hounslow LBC [2018] and in R. (on the application of Luna Stockton Sarl) v Stockton-on-Tees BC [2018].
Residential: Throughout his career Reuben has advised and represented residential developers including, Bellway, Taylor Wimpey, Crest Nicholson, Bloor Homes and Linden Homes. He has been advising Persimmons Homes in relation to their large site SW of Trowbridge. Reuben won for Corinthian Mountfield Ltd in the Court of Appeal in Shirley v Secretary of State [2019] an important decision relating to air quality and call-in. Reuben successfully defended the grant of permission for residential use of a 33-hectare site in the Green Belt: R. (on the application of Smech Properties Ltd) v Runnymede BC [2016]. In the same year Reuben won for Bloor Homes in Oadby and Wigston BC v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2016] a case relating to the interpretation of the NPPF.
Infrastructure: Reuben has extensive experience spanning his entire career relating to infrastructure development including promoting the A303 improvement at Stonehenge for Highways England, continuing to advise Gatwick Airport Limited in relation to its plans for runway expansion, presenting the evidence on noise, ground settlement and highways on behalf of the Government for Crossrail and representing BAA at the Heathrow Terminal 5 Inquiry.
Tall Buildings: Reuben has been involved in a number of contentious appeals relating to tall buildings including the proposals at Kensington Forum, Newcombe House in Notting Hill Gate, the Whitechapel Estate, Sainsbury’s Whitechapel (successfully defending Tower Hamlet’s refusal of permission) and a tower in Edmonton for St Modwen.
Student Accommodation: He has secured consents on numerous sites for student accommodation and regularly acts for Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Sites he has recently secured permission on include Mill Road, Cambridge for McLaren Group, 166 bedspaces in a Conservation Area St. David’s Hill, Exeter, Devon and Pritchatts Park for the University of Birmingham.
Heritage: Recent experience in the heritage field includes winning the controversial Clerkenwell Close appeal for Amin Taha, defending the consent for development at Wolverton for St Modwen which involved demolition of some George Stephenson Railway Sheds and leading the appeal for planning permission for enabling development to preserve the most important existing collection of Samuel Wyatt buildings in existence at the Doddington Estate.
London: Reuben regularly advises the Mayor of London in relation to planning matters and to represent the Mayor/GLA at planning appeals. This included the appeal for Newcombe house in Notting Hill Gate. Reuben successfully represented Queens Park Rangers Football club the Court of Appeal in defending planning permission for a new training ground within Metropolitan Open land (i.e. Green Belt): Brown v Ealing LBC [2018]
Technical Matters: Reuben is adept at dealing with complex and technical matters. He regularly advises on the intricacies of CiL. In 2020 he secured the quashing of a statutory instrument on behalf of the London Duck Tours company relating to navigational safety of passenger vessels on the Thames. The Secretary of State for Transport consented to judgment before trial.
Qualifications
Reuben went to Falmer School, Brighton. He graduated in Law with LLB (Hons) from the University of Wales in 1989. He was called to the Bar in 1990 as the Sir Raymond Phillips Award recipient.
He has been an editor of the Sweet & Maxwell Planning Law Encyclopaedia and a contributor to Atkin’s Court Forms and Butterworths’ Compulsory Purchase & Compensation Service. In his spare time, Reuben loves to play bass guitar in a hard rock band and tennis with his teenage boys.
Inquiries
- 01/01/2020Doddington Estate Appeal [2020]
- 01/01/2020Cranfield Road, Milton Keynes [2020]
- 01/01/2019Newcombe House [2019]
- 01/01/2019Walnut Gardens Exeter [2019]
- 01/01/2019Seven Oaks Local Plan Inquiry [2019]
- 01/01/2019A303 Stonehenge Examination [2019]
- 01/01/2019Clerkenwell Close Inquiry [2019]
- 01/01/2018Sainsbury’s Whitechapel [2018]
- 01/01/2018Land to the Rear of High Street, Great Missenden [2018]
- 01/01/2018Land between Audlem Road/Broad Lane, Stapeleigh [2018]
- 01/01/2017Whitechapel Estate Inquiry [2017]
- 01/01/2017White Moss, Cheshire East [2017]
- 01/01/2017Manor Place, Oxford [2017]
- 01/01/2017Crouchland Biogas Inquiry [2017]
- 01/01/2016100 Cromwell Road [2016]
- 01/01/2016Edmonton Green Shopping Centre [2016]
- 01/01/2016Land at Mill Lane, Over [2016]
- 23/10/2007West End Green
- 12/10/2007Somerfield
- 31/08/2006Secretary of State confirms M4 J11 Orders
- 15/06/2006Quinn Glass Limited
- 10/05/2006Reading Inner Distributor Road
- 01/01/2004Crossrail Bill (Parliamentary Hybrid Bill proceedings) [from 2004 and continuing]
Inquiries
West End Green
23/10/2007
Having secured planning permission for a 24 story residential tower block and retail supermarket on Edgware Road, London for the client, I advised and represented them in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal following a s288 challenge by Sainsbury’s (a third party at the Inquiry).
Important case relating to the extent to which the Secretary of State has to have regard to alternative designs for development on the same site.
Solicitor: Oliver Wright, Berwin Leighton Paisner
Other Party: Sainsburys Stores Ltd
Inquiries
Secretary of State confirms M4 J11 Orders
31/08/2006
The Secretary of State finally confirmed (1) the Reading Borough Council (M4 Junction 11/A33 Reading to Basingstoke Classified Road) (Side Roads and Other Works) Order 2004, (2) the Reading Borough Council (M4 Junction 11/A33 Reading to Basingstoke Classified Road) Compulsory Purchase Order 2004 and (3) the Reading Borough Council (Land at Whitley Wood Depot, Whitley Wood Road, Reading) Compulsory Purchase Order 2004.
These Orders were promoted by Reading BC to enlarge and modify junction 11 on the M4 and the A33 to ease congestion and provide a better route for public transport. The decision was delayed awaiting funding decisions following inquiry in October 2004.
The Council was advised and represented by David Elvin QC and Reuben Taylor.
Inquiries
Quinn Glass Limited
15/06/2006
Advising and representing Quinn Glass with a view to securing planning permission for the largest Container Glass plant in Europe. Complex case involving the interrelationship between planning and the IPPC procedure, habitats directive, EIA, noise and road traffic issues.
Complex case that is on-going.
Solicitor: Tony Kitson, CMS Cameron McKenna
Inquiries
Reading Inner Distributor Road
10/05/2006
Advising Reading Borough Council in relation to a judicial review of a decision to implement a new inner distribution road for central Reading. Complex case involving a large amount of technical highways evidence.
Case resolved by consent order.
Solicitor: Emrys Parry, Bond Pearce
Other Party: Wokingham District Council
Inquiries
Crossrail Bill (Parliamentary Hybrid Bill proceedings) [from 2004 and continuing]
01/01/2004
I am leading the Counsel team (which comprises two other silks and 2 juniors) which is promoting the Crossrail bill through Parliament for the Department for Transport. We completed Commons Select Committee during 2007, had confirmation of government funding from the Prime Minister in the autumn and will beginning House of Lords Select committee hearings in February 2008. The Bill gives powers for the largest rail project since the Victorian period and will provide a much needed new railway into and through central London from east, west and Kent. It has important implications for the economy of London, the South East and therefore the UK as a whole. It involves a large number of controversial development, compensation and other issues – including noise, settlement, heritage, local communities, transport, and environmental assessment. Property issues are in important issue in terms of acquisition, valuation compensation and settlement negotiations. In addition to appearing in committee, I have been advising Government on the many issues raised by the Bill since autumn 2004 and have been heavily involved in the process since then.
Articles and Presentations
- Delivering Major Infrastructure: Part 3 – Executing the land acquisition strategy – Webinar
- Remote Council Decision Making – Webinar
- Appeal Routes PINS, VOA And Judicial Review Which Route For Which Decisions
- Compulsory Purchase Orders – Section 9 – After Pattle
- Draft PPS New Guidance on Historic Assets – Striking the Balance, Conserving the Past and Securing the Future
- Environmental Impact Series – Noise – The Legal Policy
Inquiries
West End Green
23/10/2007
Having secured planning permission for a 24 story residential tower block and retail supermarket on Edgware Road, London for the client, I advised and represented them in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal following a s288 challenge by Sainsbury’s (a third party at the Inquiry).
Important case relating to the extent to which the Secretary of State has to have regard to alternative designs for development on the same site.
Solicitor: Oliver Wright, Berwin Leighton Paisner
Other Party: Sainsburys Stores Ltd
Inquiries
Secretary of State confirms M4 J11 Orders
31/08/2006
The Secretary of State finally confirmed (1) the Reading Borough Council (M4 Junction 11/A33 Reading to Basingstoke Classified Road) (Side Roads and Other Works) Order 2004, (2) the Reading Borough Council (M4 Junction 11/A33 Reading to Basingstoke Classified Road) Compulsory Purchase Order 2004 and (3) the Reading Borough Council (Land at Whitley Wood Depot, Whitley Wood Road, Reading) Compulsory Purchase Order 2004.
These Orders were promoted by Reading BC to enlarge and modify junction 11 on the M4 and the A33 to ease congestion and provide a better route for public transport. The decision was delayed awaiting funding decisions following inquiry in October 2004.
The Council was advised and represented by David Elvin QC and Reuben Taylor.
Inquiries
Quinn Glass Limited
15/06/2006
Advising and representing Quinn Glass with a view to securing planning permission for the largest Container Glass plant in Europe. Complex case involving the interrelationship between planning and the IPPC procedure, habitats directive, EIA, noise and road traffic issues.
Complex case that is on-going.
Solicitor: Tony Kitson, CMS Cameron McKenna
Inquiries
Reading Inner Distributor Road
10/05/2006
Advising Reading Borough Council in relation to a judicial review of a decision to implement a new inner distribution road for central Reading. Complex case involving a large amount of technical highways evidence.
Case resolved by consent order.
Solicitor: Emrys Parry, Bond Pearce
Other Party: Wokingham District Council
Inquiries
Crossrail Bill (Parliamentary Hybrid Bill proceedings) [from 2004 and continuing]
01/01/2004
I am leading the Counsel team (which comprises two other silks and 2 juniors) which is promoting the Crossrail bill through Parliament for the Department for Transport. We completed Commons Select Committee during 2007, had confirmation of government funding from the Prime Minister in the autumn and will beginning House of Lords Select committee hearings in February 2008. The Bill gives powers for the largest rail project since the Victorian period and will provide a much needed new railway into and through central London from east, west and Kent. It has important implications for the economy of London, the South East and therefore the UK as a whole. It involves a large number of controversial development, compensation and other issues – including noise, settlement, heritage, local communities, transport, and environmental assessment. Property issues are in important issue in terms of acquisition, valuation compensation and settlement negotiations. In addition to appearing in committee, I have been advising Government on the many issues raised by the Bill since autumn 2004 and have been heavily involved in the process since then.