Planning barristers for London inquiries and High Court challenges.
Counsel for Section 78 appeals, called in inquiries, enforcement, CPO and High Court planning challenges in and around London, on Public Access or via solicitors.
Planning Barristers for London clients
London is the largest planning appeal and inquiry market in England. Section 78 appeals against London borough refusals are determined by the Planning Inspectorate through written representations, hearings and inquiries, and higher level called in and recovered inquiries are heard in and around London.
Clerk and Counsel is a clerking agency, not a chambers. We place independent planning counsel from the London Bar on Section 78 appeals, called in inquiries, enforcement notice appeals, CPO work and High Court planning statutory reviews. Where Public Access is appropriate we can put counsel on a case on a fixed fee without a solicitor.
Typical London planning instructions involve residential extensions and change of use appeals, mid scale residential and mixed use schemes, tall building and design led disputes, heritage and conservation area cases, enforcement notice appeals and challenges to London borough refusals or Mayor of London decisions.
For hearings and inquiry timetables counsel are usually engaged well in advance. For enforcement notice appeals with short statutory deadlines counsel can be engaged within a week.
Areas of work in London
Section 78 appeals
Written representation, hearing and inquiry appeals against London borough refusals or non determination.
Called in and recovered inquiries
Advocacy at called in inquiries and recovered appeals decided by the Secretary of State.
Enforcement notice appeals
Ground A to G appeals against London borough enforcement notices, including breach of condition and change of use enforcement.
Heritage and conservation
Listed building consent appeals, conservation area cases and Section 66 and 72 arguments.
CPO and compensation
Compulsory purchase objections and Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber compensation references.
High Court statutory reviews
Section 288 challenges to Inspector decisions, Section 289 enforcement appeals and Section 113 challenges to London Plan and local plan documents.
Where these cases are heard
Section 78 planning inquiries in London are held at London borough offices, hired hearing venues and the Planning Inspectorate's dedicated inquiry rooms. Called in and recovered inquiries are often held in central London.
High Court planning statutory reviews under Sections 288, 289 and 113 are heard in the Administrative Court and the Planning Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL.
Compensation and CPO references are heard at the Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber at 45 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DN. Case management is increasingly conducted remotely.
What drives this work in London
London planning work is driven by a very tight land supply, high residential and mixed use demand, extensive heritage protection across central and inner London, active enforcement teams in most London boroughs and layered decision making across borough, Mayor of London and Secretary of State levels.
Tall building, design and heritage disputes are more common in London than anywhere else in the country, and the volume of enforcement notice appeals in the private rented and short let sectors continues to increase.
Public Access enquiries in London are dominated by individual owners of residential or small commercial properties defending enforcement notices, promoting small scale development or challenging borough refusals. Where a larger scheme is involved we typically work alongside a planning solicitor and a planning consultant.
What instructing counsel costs
Fees are agreed in writing before any work begins. A written advice on the merits of a London Section 78 appeal or enforcement position typically runs between seven hundred and two thousand pounds plus VAT.
Drafting statements of case, grounds of appeal and proofs of evidence is usually in the range of one thousand to three thousand five hundred pounds plus VAT.
Hearing and inquiry fees are agreed in writing before the event, typically on a brief fee plus refresher basis. Junior counsel London inquiry brief fees start from around two thousand pounds plus VAT with daily refreshers thereafter.
If you have a London planning matter that needs counsel, send us a brief with the decision or notice and we will come back with a shortlist, an indicative fixed fee where Public Access fits, and confirmation of conflict check timing.
Every barrister we place is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Clerk&Counsel is a clerking agency and does not provide legal services itself.
Planning Barristers in London, common questions
Where are London planning appeals heard?
Section 78 inquiries are held at London borough offices and hired venues. High Court planning statutory reviews are heard in the Planning Court at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Can I instruct a planning barrister directly?
Yes, on Public Access, where the matter is suitable. Counsel can advise, draft grounds and appear at hearings and inquiries on a fixed fee without a solicitor.
How long do I have to appeal an enforcement notice?
Enforcement notice appeals have short statutory deadlines. Get counsel involved as early as possible so grounds can be settled inside the time limit.
Do you cover High Court planning challenges?
Yes. We place counsel on Section 288, 289 and 113 challenges in the Planning Court.
What does a London planning inquiry cost?
Junior counsel inquiry brief fees start from around two thousand pounds plus VAT with daily refreshers thereafter. Senior counsel and larger inquiries are priced separately.