This is the fourth consecutive year that Planning Magazine has ranked Holmes & Hills’ team of Planning Law solicitors as one of the best in the country for specialist advice and representation in the area of Planning Law. In Planning Magazine’s ‘Highest Rated Planning Law firms 2017’, Holmes & Hills’ team has ranked joint 28th, in the table of the nation’s 50 top law firms, an improvement on last year’s ranking of 33rd.
The Head of the Planning & Development Team, Steven Hopkins, commented that “I am delighted that the team has received this recognition from Planning Magazine for the fourth consecutive year. This puts Holmes & Hills’ Planning & Development Team shoulder to shoulder with some of the leading law firms in the country. This independent national recognition is only achieved due to the hard work and expertise of my colleagues, David Whipps, Jo Lilliott, Tom McPhie and Michael Harman.”
This ranking follows a string of independent recognition for the team and the solicitors’ collective expertise which covers strategic planning, planning obligations and Section 106 Agreements, planning advice, planning appeals, High Court challenges, planning enforcement and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations, to name just a few.
The Planning & Development Team is also recognised by Chambers & Partners – an independent directory of the UK’s top law firms – as being a leading source of advice and representation in relation to all areas of Planning Law. This is in addition to recognition from a second independent legal directory, The Legal 500, which individually recommends all five of the team’s senior solicitors for their expertise. Both of these publications have also recognised the team’s niche expertise for several years, with improved rankings in recent years.
Holmes & Hills advises and represents a wide range of clients in relation to Planning Law matters, including nine local authorities across Essex and Suffolk, as well as regional and national developers. Recent highlights for the team include:
Acting for Harlow District Council in the defence of a Judicial Review and Appeal to the Court of Appeal. In this case, after providing initial advice on the drafting of a Breach of Condition Notice, Holmes & Hills represented Harlow District Council in defending a claim for Judicial Review of the Council’s decision to issue the Breach of Condition Notice and subsequently defending an appeal against the High Court’s decision.
Acting for Tendring District Council in the negotiation and drafting of three Section 106 Agreements relating to three separate appeals and applications for planning permission for development of 220, 240 and 276 residential units.
Acting for Colchester Borough Council in the negotiation and drafting of a Section 106 Agreement relating to an appeal against refusal of outline planning permission for a mixed use development of leisure uses including a cinema and retail units with associated parking, public realm and highway improvements.
Acting for a large farming organisation in relation to a remitted appeal back to the Planning Inspectorate following a successful Statutory challenge to a Planning Inspector’s appeal decision to refuse to grant planning permission for the retention of a 12m by 4m concrete storage tank for storing up to 1,545,500 litres if abattoir wash water on our client’s farm.
The team receives a wide range of positive remarks from independent organisations and those they work with:
“Excellent, prompt, reliable advice from all. The team is also pragmatic and looks to find solutions to issues and not just identify problems.” - The Planning & Design Bureau Ltd
"The service we have received has always been first rate and very efficient. The advice is sound and easy to understand.... I would have no hesitation in recommending their services." – Tendring District Council
"The team led by the dynamic Jo Lilliott has been proactive throughout. Her attention to detail, clarity of the broad issues involved and depth of understanding are second-to-none." – Wilkin & Sons
Holmes & Hills Solicitors provides:
Planning Law advice to developers
Planning Law advice to local authorities
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