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Starting my seat in the Planning & Environment team at Michelmores has been a fascinating opportunity to see how planning law operates at the intersection of law, policy and development on the ground. Planning is a broad and constantly evolving area, and one that plays a critical role in shaping places, communities and the environment. From large-scale housing schemes to infrastructure projects, the team advises on matters that are both legally complex and socially significant.
Planning at Michelmores
One of the aspects that has stood out most during my seat so far is the sheer breadth of work the team covers. The Planning team at Michelmores advises across the full lifecycle of development, supporting landowners, commercial developers, regional house builders, government bodies and planning authorities from site acquisition through to delivery. This includes advising on the interpretation and application of planning policy, supporting planning applications, and navigating the increasingly technical regulatory landscape.
A key area of work is planning agreements, particularly section 106 agreements – legal agreements entered into between a developer and the local planning authority when planning permission is granted to ensure that a development pays for and/or provides things needed to deal with its impact on the local area. During the first half of my seat, I have observed the drafting and negotiation of section 106 obligations, advising on triggers, phasing and enforceability, and liaising with local planning authorities and other stakeholders to progress agreements towards completion. Seeing how planning obligations are used to balance development with infrastructure and community benefits has been a valuable learning experience.
The team also undertakes significant work in relation to biodiversity net gain (BNG), an area that has become central to modern planning practice. I have observed the team advise clients on their BNG obligations, reviewing biodiversity metric calculations and drafting BNG-related provisions in planning agreements. Keeping up to date with the ever-evolving statutory framework and guidance in this area has proven to be a very interesting and topical subject area.
The Planning team also works closely with colleagues across the firm, particularly in Real Estate, Property Litigation and Agriculture. This collaboration reflects the reality that planning issues rarely arise in isolation. Being involved in matters that cut across multiple practice areas has given me insight into how the firm delivers cohesive, commercial advice to clients.
Planning Primer
Attending the most recent Planning Primer at Cheltenham Racecourse was an excellent opportunity to put my planning knowledge and understanding to the test. We hosted Lord Charles Banner KC, a leading planning and environmental silk at Keating Chambers, alongside Tim Goodwin, Director of Bennu Environmental and one of the UK’s leading ecologists. Led by Helen Hutton, a Partner in the firm’s Planning & Environment team, each speaker explored whether planning consent has become quicker and more predictable to obtain in the current climate, offering their respective professional perspectives.
Against the backdrop of wide‑ranging recent planning reforms – many of which represent a positive shift for the development industry – the Planning Primer provided an invaluable platform to explore the impact of changes already being felt across different types of development, as well as to hear informed commentary on the reforms that are imminently expected.
Overall, my planning seat at Michelmores has been interesting and varied, offering exposure to high-quality work from an early stage. For trainees interested in a practice area that combines technical law with real-world impact, planning is an excellent choice.
For more insight on the team’s work, please visit our webpage: Planning Law.