Why choose me
Planning law is a constantly evolving area, which makes it an exciting and challenging field to work in. I enjoy the technical detail and problem-solving nature of the discipline – piecing together the legal and policy frameworks to deliver the best outcomes for my clients.
I take time to understand what really matters to each client, tailoring advice to support their objectives and ensure the most efficient route to achieving them. My focus is always on providing technically sound, commercially minded solutions that move projects forward with confidence.
I advise a broad range of clients, including hyperscale data centre developers and operators, renewable energy developers, national and regional housebuilders, and developers of purpose-built student accommodation. I also support national banks, local authorities and wider public sector bodies.
My experience includes advising on planning strategy for major residential and mixed-use schemes, data centre and infrastructure projects.
I regularly advise on technical planning issues, such as implementation, overlapping permissions and enforcement, as well as drafting and negotiating Section 106 Agreements and infrastructure agreements under the Highways Act 1980 and the Water Industry Act 1991.
Away from work, I enjoy rugby, golf and spending time with my young family.
Planning law is a constantly evolving area, which makes it an exciting and challenging field to work in. I enjoy the technical detail and problem-solving nature of the discipline – piecing together the legal and policy frameworks to deliver the best outcomes for my clients.
I take time to understand what really matters to each client, tailoring advice to support their objectives and ensure the most efficient route to achieving them. My focus is always on providing technically sound, commercially minded solutions that move projects forward with confidence.
I advise a broad range of clients, including hyperscale data centre developers and operators, renewable energy developers, national and regional housebuilders, and developers of purpose-built student accommodation. I also support national banks, local authorities and wider public sector bodies.
My experience includes advising on planning strategy for major residential and mixed-use schemes, data centre and infrastructure projects.
I regularly advise on technical planning issues, such as implementation, overlapping permissions and enforcement, as well as drafting and negotiating Section 106 Agreements and infrastructure agreements under the Highways Act 1980 and the Water Industry Act 1991.
Away from work, I enjoy rugby, golf and spending time with my young family.
Related services and specialisms from HCR Law
Questions my clients ask me
Data centres don’t fit comfortably into any particular use class. However, they’re generally considered to fall within use class B8 (storage and distribution) or categorised as sui generis (a class of its own).
To obtain consent for a data centre in England and Wales a planning application needs to be submitted to the local planning authority. The merit of an application is assessed against the local development plan and local and national planning policy. The UK government has however announced that it intends to make changes to the Planning Act 2008 to enable data centre proposals to ‘opt into’ the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime for projects in England. An NSIP application is determined by the relevant Secretary of State.
To lawfully implement planning permission, a developer must: · formally discharge all pre-commencement conditions (also known as conditions precedent); and · carry out a ‘material operation’ comprised within the development (i.e. the ‘material operation’ must be authorised by the planning permission). Each case will turn on its own facts but examples of ‘material operations’ include building an access road, digging trenches for foundations or carrying out demolition works. We advise developers whether a planning permission has been lawfully implemented, what strategy they should consider to implement it and what other options may be available to evidence that planning permission has been implemented.
Legal updates and thought leadership
Article
8 September 2025
6 minute read