Our Planning team has specialist expertise in all aspects of planning enforcement action, and legal challenges arising out of planning decisions. We have a proven track record of success in both areas.
So whether you’re being threatened with planning enforcement action, need the local planning authority to take action against breaches of planning that affect you, or want to challenge a grant of planning permission that may have been made unlawfully – contact us for expert professional advice.
Judicial Review expertise at local and national level
Our Planning team has extensive experience at local and national levels, and acts regularly for claimants and interested parties in claims for Judicial Review. We can provide constructive, straightforward advice from the outset, and we’ll be clear about the potential outcome of your case and the likely costs involved.
Industry-recognised capabilities across a comprehensive range of legal services
The Stephens Scown Planning team is ranked in the UK’s top two independent legal guides, Chambers and The Legal 500, . We advise clients across the South West and throughout the UK, on a variety of residential and commercial development projects.
Our planning legal expertise at work
An example of our experience advising a Cornish Action Group:
A group of local people opposed a development they felt hadn’t been given proper consideration in terms of its environmental impact. After seeking early advice from the Stephens Scown Planning team, the objecting group made a claim for Judicial Review.
The claim was against the local council’s decision to grant planning permission in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty without carrying out an environmental impact assessment (EIA).
The judge found that the Council’s grant of planning permission was unlawful, and also that it was unreasonable for the Council to have granted such permission without waiting for the Secretary of State’s decision on whether EIA was required.
Consequently, the grant of planning permission was quashed, leaving the application for planning permission to be determined again by the council. However, the developer withdrew the planning application.
