Francis Taylor Building

Since joining Chambers in 2014, Alexander has developed a busy specialist practice at the planning, environment and local government bar, and is rated as one of the top planning barristers under the age of 35.

Recent notable cases in which he has been involved in include:

• Acting (as junior to Gregory Jones KC) for West Cumbria Mining Ltd, regarding its application for a new metallurgical coal mine in Whitehaven, which has drawn international press coverage. Planning consent was granted by the Secretary of State in December 2022, in accordance with the recommendation of a planning inspector who held a 4 week inquiry into the proposal in September 2021 after it was called in by the Secretary of State. Alexander appeared at the inquiry and is currently instructed as junior counsel by West Cumbria Mining Ltd, as interested party, to defend two s. 288 challenges to the Secretary of State’s decision.
• Acting for West Oxfordshire District Council, who successfully resisted an appeal against their decision to refuse planning permission for a retirement community of up to 160 extra care units within the grounds of a former country house, which were found to comprise a Valued Landscape.
• Acting for the claimant in a 2 day s. 113 claim (Norton St Philip PC v Mendip DC [2022] EWHC 3432 (Admin)), which successfully challenged the adoption of a local plan on grounds relating to misinterpretation of policy and a failure to consider reasonable alternatives through the sustainability appraisal.
• Advising and acting for HS2 (as junior to Morag Ellis KC) in a number of judicial reviews concerning appeals under Schedule 17 to the High Speed Rail (London to West Midlands) Act 2017, which were either refused permission, or dismissed by the High Court in Buckinghamshire Council v SST [2022] EWHC 1923 (Admin).

Alexander welcomes instructions to act individually or as part of a team across all of Chambers' areas of practice.