Overview
“ ‘Excellent, friendly’ Six Pump Court provides ‘first rate’ advice on a range of planning matters, with criminal and regulatory expertise to complement its strengths in planning.” – Legal 2022
The breadth of Chambers’ areas of specialism, including our highly successful (and ranked) Regulatory and Environmental teams, provides our clients with a depth of talent and experience within Chambers that distinguishes Six Pump Court from other sets planning sets in London.
Our planning law barristers appear regularly in the full range of courts and tribunals engaged in planning law, including inquiries and hearings into planning applications and appeals, enforcement appeals and the examination of local plans, CIL charging schedules and neighbourhood plans. We also appear at inquiries and hearings into proposed compulsory purchase orders, development consents, village greens and other statutory orders concerning highways and Public Rights of Way
Six Pump Court is also recognised for its experience and expertise in related areas of public law and civil litigation, appearing regularly in the Senior Courts at first instance and on appeal. Our planning law barristers have considerable experience of cases involving judicial review and statutory challenges in the Planning Court; appeals by way of case stated in the Divisional Court; and claims for planning injunctions in the Interim Applications Court in the Queen’s Bench Division.
Our planning law barristers are instructed by a diverse range of public, private and third sector clients. We act for a large number of local authorities across the country, government departments and other statutory bodies engaged in planning matters, undertaking a diverse mix of plan-making, decision-taking and enforcement work. Our members also act for a wide variety of developers, businesses and individuals, assisting them to navigate the complexities and uncertainties of the regime of planning control and enforcement in pursuit of realistic and effective outcomes.
Many of our members are recommended as specialist planning barristers in the Chambers UK Bar Guide and Legal 500.
Testimonials
“ ‘Excellent, friendly’ Six Pump Court provides ‘first rate’ advice on a range of planning matters, with criminal and regulatory expertise to complement its strengths in planning.”
― Legal 500 [2022]
"The degree of professionalism and expertise at Six Pump Court is impressive."
― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2022]
“Six Pump Court is well regarded for planning work in both advisory and litigation contexts, with an affinity for matters that overlap with related disciplines such as regulatory and environmental law.”
― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2021]
"Six Pump Court provides high-quality advice and advocacy in a range of planning matters. Its barristers are frequently instructed by local authorities to act in planning enforcement cases and residential development matters. "
― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2020]
“The set’s potent public sector expertise is augmented by its considerable experience of acting on behalf of private clients on a host of matters, including enforcement actions, appeals and judicial reviews.”
― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2018]
“Six Pump Court has ‘always been a go-to set for planning matters, with an excellent range of barristers who are ready to help and go beyond the call of duty’. The set was reappointed to the London Boroughs Legal Alliance (LBLA) panel for planning, and members also act for private clients such as landowners, developers and infrastructure providers.”
― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2017]
“The set remains a top choice for local authorities requiring representation in appeals and inquiries, particularly in regard to planning enforcement, local plans and community infrastructure levy matters. This expertise is demonstrated by the set’s appointment to the London Boroughs’ Legal Alliance.”
― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2016]
Latest news
Planning permission for exploratory fracking dismissed
In June 2022, the Secretary of State found in favour of the council's case and dismissed the appellant's application for planning permission for exploratory...
EIA Parameter Plans interpreted in line with common sense
Megan Thomas QC acting for Canterbury City Council successfully defended two judicial reviews seeking to challenge the discharge of conditions on an outline planning permission.
Six Pump Court barristers listed in Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2021
Stephen Hockman QC, David Hercock and Christopher Badger are been included in the WWL UK Bar 2021 list of leading barristers in Environmental Law.
Discounts of 25% on books by Six Pump Court authors
Today (Friday), Law Brief will be running a Black Friday discount of 25% for all books available on their website.
Diversion Orders Webinar
The second webinar in our Public Rights of Way series will cover Diversion Orders.
Six Pump Court welcomes Brendon Moorhouse
Six Pump Court is pleased to announce that specialist environmental and regulatory law barrister Brendon Moorhouse has joined Chambers.
Six Pump Court Environmental Law Conference – 3rd December
Six Pump Court is pleased to announce our first full day Environmental Law Conference, bringing together specialist counsel with leading external speakers to cover a range of topical environmental issues.
New Christ’s Hospital School £25m sports centre plans approved
Horsham District Council’s planning committee have approved a major application to build the facilities. Anne Williams and Angelica Rokad represented the School.
DMMO Applications webinar
The first webinar in our Public Rights of Way series will cover DMMO Applications and be held on 6th September.
Public rights of way webinar series
Six Pump Court Chambers will be presenting a series of three webinars on public rights of way.
New book on flood claims
This book entitled ‘A Practical Guide to the Law of Flood Protection and Flood Claims’ by William Upton QC was published this week.
Anne Williams and William McBarnet successfully represent appellant at planning inquiry
The appellant had appealed the decision of the local council not to grant planning permission for the development of a low carbon home in Dorset.
Planning Law Update – 28th June
We are very pleased to be hosting a Planning Law Update webinar this month.
Solar Salt Projects in Africa: environmental legal issues
In a paper for a recent webinar, Chris Badger discusses some of the environmental and legal issues that can arise in arbitration disputes, with specific reference to issues that can arise in developing markets.
Homestead planning inquiry to begin in May
Anne Williams and William McBarnet will represent the Appellant at this four day planning inquiry into the Homestead, a low carbon home in Bothenhampton, Dorset.
Breaches of Enforcement Notices lead to prosecution
Giles Atkinson represented the defendants who were convicted for breaching listed building enforcement notices.
A Practical Guide to Environmental Enforcement
Six Pump Court environmental law practitioners Christopher Badger and Stuart Jessop are the authors of a new practical guide to environmental enforcement.
Megan Thomas and Simon Taylor appointed as Queen’s Counsel
Six Pump Court is pleased to announce Megan Thomas and Simon Taylor's appointment as Queen's Counsel today.
Judgment handed down in Crest Nicholson v West Berkshire District Council
David Travers QC and Megan Thomas acted for the successful defendant.
International arbitration and climate change webinar
In this masterclass webinar, specialists from Six Pump Court discussed the key trends and issues in climate change litigation and the likely impact of those developments on international arbitration.
Events
Planning Law Update
We are delighted to offer another in our series of Planning Law updates.
UKELA Conference 14 -18 June
On 14th -18th June the UKELA conference will take place and we are delighted to be one of the sponsors once again.
Public Rights of Way Webinars – Highway creation, adoption, and extinguishment
The third webinar in our Public Rights of Way series will consider some of the issues which can arise when new highways are created in conjunction with new development.
Environmental Law Hybrid Conference – 3rd December 2021
Six Pump Court is pleased to announce our first full day Environmental Law Conference, bringing together specialist counsel with leading external speakers to cover a range of topical environmental issues.
Recent case law from the Planning Court – Women in Planning
Women in Planning together with Six Pump Court Chambers are hosting this webinar rounding up recent case law from the Planning Court.
Public Rights of Way Webinars – Diversion orders
The second webinar in our Public Rights of Way series will cover some of the trickier points relating to highway diversions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Highways Act 1980.
Public Rights of Way Webinars – Definitive Map Modification Order applications
The first webinar in our series is for new rights of way officers, and anyone who would like to refresh their knowledge of some of the basic (and some of the more challenging) issues relating to Definitive Map Modification Order applications,
Planning Law Update Webinar
We are very pleased to be hosting a Planning Law Update webinar this month.
UKELA Conference 14 -18 June
We are delighted to be one of the sponsors once again at this year's event. Members of Six Pump Court will be taking part and presenting some of the sessions.
Webinar: Heritage Assessment and Design in Planning Decisions
On Friday 19th June Six Pump Court will host a webinar entitled Heritage Assessment and Design in Planning Decisions.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: The Principle of ‘Separate Legal Personality’
Six Pump Court presents the third in our series of Environmental Law Seminars to be held this year.
Company Directors and Environmental Responsibilities
Six Pump Court presents the second in our series of Environmental Law Seminars to be held this year.
Private Nuisance: Key Contemporary Issues or “Bringing Home the Bacon”
Six Pump Court, together with UKELA Eastern Region presents an environmental seminar - Private Nuisance: Key Contemporary Issues.
Friday 13th July – Regulatory Law Conference 2018 (Birmingham)
Six Pump Court will present a Regulatory and Planning Law Conference to be held on 13th July in Birmingham.
Regulatory and Planning Law Conference 2017 (Leeds)
Six Pump Court presents a Regulatory and Planning Law Conference to be held on 20th November in Leeds.
The event will cover a variety of topics providing essential updates on specialist areas, informative discussion on topical issues and practical tips for regulators and for those who represent the regulated.
Piercing the Veil’ Incorporation and Liability for Environmental Damage: Widening the Net
Six Pump Court presents the third in our series of Environmental and Public Law Seminars to be held this year. Wednesday 12th July –...
Private Nuisance Litigation Masterclass
Our series of Masterclass Environmental Law Seminars continues next month with a second seminar, Private Nuisance Litigation Masterclass to be held on 11th July.