Hugh Flanagan

Planning Infrastructure Compulsory Purchase and Compensation Rating Local Government

Hugh specialises in planning and public law, with a focus on infrastructure, housing, compulsory purchase and compensation, and rating. He acts for developers, individuals, central government and local authorities. He frequently appears in courts and tribunals at all levels up to the Supreme Court, as well as at planning inquiries and examinations. He has consistently appeared in Planning Magazine's survey of top-rated planning juniors. He is a member of the Attorney General's B Panel of Counsel and an editor of the Encyclopaedia of Compulsory Purchase and Compensation.

Hugh is ranked as a leading junior in the Legal 500 and described in Chambers and Partners as “a very talented junior who can more than hold his own in the company of KCs” (2017), "a standout junior" (2022) and “very strong at written advocacy and a very neat cross-examiner – the sort of person who gets his opponent to make unforced errors” (2020).

Recent examples of his work include:

Acting for EDF Energy in promoting the Sizewell C nuclear power station Acting for Heathrow Airport Limited in relation to its plans for a third runway Acting for Network Rail in promoting the expansion of Oxford station Appearing for London City Airport in securing planning permission for its airport expansion Appearing for the valuation officer in the Supreme Court in Telereal Trillium v Hewitt [2019] UKSC 23 Appearing for the Secretary of State in the High Court in Manor Oak Homes v SSCLG [2019] EWHC 1736 Appearing for Cherwell District Council in the examination of its Local Plan to address Oxford’s unmet housing need and in the subsequent High Court challenge

Brasenose College, BA (Oxon) (1st class - ranked 5th in his year) GDL (Distinction) BVC  (Outstanding)

During 2010-11 Hugh was appointed as Judicial Assistant to Lord Mance and Lord Kerr in the UK Supreme Court, where he assisted the Justices with many of the leading cases in his practice areas.