Jonathan Clay

Planning; environment; judicial review.

Jonathan's practice covers all aspects of planning and environmental control, housing, renewable energy, large-scale infrastructure projects and village greens, as well as housing, commercial and retail development schemes.

Jonathan has been shortlisted for the Planning and Land Use Junior of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023.

His practice involves appearances in the High Court and Court of Appeal and at major public inquiries. Recent cases include: Suffolk Coastal v Hopkins Homes [2017] (SC) on the meaning of the NPPF, NHS Properties v Surrey CC [2018] (CA) on village greens and statutory incompatibility (awaiting permission to appeal to the SC).

Major development projects include:  Amex Stadium, Brighton, where he represented Brighton and Hove Albion F.C. at inquiry and in the courts and, more recently, a scheme for the major regeneration of Bognor Regis where he acted for the successful appellant. His recent success in appeals at Eden Park housing development secured two planning permissions for major housing development on open land in Bromley. He works for both appellants and authorities in housing, commercial and industrial development appeals and has advised on content and soundness of local plans and on housing land supply issues and appeared at several local plan EIPs.

University College Bangor, Wales (1978 BSc); Bath University (1980 PGCE); Polytechnic of Central London (1989 LLB Hons).