Landmark Chambers

Matthew is a planning and environmental law specialist.

Matt/Matthew is a planning and environmental law specialist. He is ranked by Legal 500 as a leading junior in both Planning and Environmental Law and has been appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel. He is the Editor of the Environment section of the Civil Court Practice and assists the editors of the Planning Encyclopaedia.

Matthew’s planning practice focuses on housing and infrastructure work (as well as CPO).

He has acted for a range of developers including national housebuilders such as Taylor Wimpey and land promoters like Catesby Estates as well as specialist and boutique developers like Optivo and Acorn Developments. He also has a busy practice working for local authorities and regularly appears in development management and enforcement appeals around the country. As panel counsel, he regularly acts for the DHLUHC, DEFRA and the Environment Agency.

Some of the schemes Matt is currently or has recently been instructed on (in relation to the planning application, planning appeal, CPO and/or legal challenge stages) include:

• Wisley New Settlement. Appeal for Taylor Wimpey against non-determination of application 1,730 home development in Surrey on the Former Wisley Airfield (with James Maurici KC)

•  Park, Bolton. The redevelopment of a Grade II registered park and garden in the Bolton Green Belt to provide a championship standard golf course capable of winning a bid for the 2031 Ryder Cup along with up to 1,036 dwellings.

• Westbury Energy from Waste Incinerator. An appeal against refusal of a major EfW incinerator in Wiltshire (led by David Elvin KC)

• NEXT distribution centre, Dowding Way, Epping. A new regional distribution hub next to the M25. Matt successfully defended the LPA’s refusal of permission.

• Whitfield Urban Extension, Dover. A major urban extension for the development of up to 6,750 homes (with David Elvin KC).

• Whitechapel Bell Foundry. A controversial redevelopment of a historic bell foundry in the East End of London. Matthew acted (with Rupert Warren KC) for the objector, Reform Heritage.

• Loxley-I gas exploration well, Surrey Hills. An exploratory borehole targeting the Lozley Gas Discovery in the High Weald Basin, one of the largest accumulations of natural gas in England (with David Elvin KC).

• Capital House, Southwark. Redevelopment in the immediate context of the Shard and Guy’s Hospital to provide a 39-storey building housing up to 905 student accommodation units (with Russell Harris KC).

• Land north of Flitch Way, Braintree. A 120 unit scheme on the edge of Braintree, Essex. Matthew acted for the successful developer.

• Roman Quarter Project, York. A mixed use redevelopment in York town centre involving the controversial excavation of Roman strata below the city and creation of a new archaeological attraction.

He also acts for local authorities in relation to their plans and has been instructed (with Matthew Reed KC) by London Borough of Enfield in respect of their emerging local plan.

As an environmental lawyer, Matthew acts frequently for government (DEFRA, EA, MMO) as well as NGOs and corporates. He is regularly instructed in relation to water matters (see his specialist Expertise page) including for water companies, harbour authorities and the EA.

He also works across broader countryside matters and continues to act for both landowners, regulators and representative bodies such as the British Association of Shooting and Conservation or Moorlands Association on matters of importance to landowners such as the management of peat, game birds, pest control and water abstraction.

He is experienced in public rights of way of village green litigation both in relation to appeals under the 1981 Act and disputes in the courts. He is also often instructed in relation to development related property and compensation work including CPO compensation claims and litigation and advice relating to s.106 agreements as well as overage and other forms of development contracts.

Matthew’s most significant cases and inquiries can be accessed by clicking the links to the right, for more detail of his practice in specific areas please also click the links under ‘Expertise’.

Matthew is a member of the UK Environmental Law Association and the Planning Bar Association.

• 2006-9: BA (Hons) History, Durham University (First)

• 2009-10: MSt Late Antique History, Art and Archaeology, Oxford University (Distinction)

• 2010-11: Graduate Diploma in Law, Oxford Brookes (Distinction)

• 2011-12: Bar Professional Training Course, Kaplan Law School (Very Competent)

Memberships

Appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel

• Planning Bar Association

• United Kingdom Environmental Law Association