The planning team at Michelmores LLP has a strong track record advising a diverse blend of public and private sector clients on a range of planning mandates that include section 106 matters, enforcements and appeals, and related environmental matters. The broad practice also advises on developments relating to housebuilders, hospitals, and police authorities, with other areas of experience covering niches such as coastal developments and marine licensing work. Planning and regeneration project expert Mark Howard leads the team from Exeter; he has considerable experience representing public authorities and private groups on the environmental, commercial, and regulatory aspects of planning mandates. In Cheltenham, Helen Hutton ‘gives practical, commercial advice’ and has experience advising on planning agreements, including those involving historic buildings and agriculture, court challenges, and compulsory purchases. In Exeter, Sarah Reardon has a focus on highway and sewer matters, with Harriet Grimes also dividing her time between a mixture of planning, highway, and residential development work.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The partners are very hands on and are always thinking ahead to anticipate any future problems that may arise.'
‘Helen Hutton is especially dedicated and will have considered every potential angle before giving her advice. Helen is very charming and a very trustworthy and competent lawyer. Her turnaround rates are extraordinary.'
‘The team at Michelmores LLP are extremely knowledgeable, experienced, helpful and friendly. They are truly a pleasure to work with.’
‘Sarah Reardon is the stand out individual I have had the pleasure to work with. Sarah's communication, knowledge and mannerisms make working with Sarah very comforting and easy.’
‘Helen Hutton was great to work with. Very good eye on detail, exceptional at ensuring we kept to programme. Kind and highly capable.’
‘What makes Michelmores stand-out is their client focus.’
‘Helen Hutton gives practical, commercial advice and excels in seeing the way through complex problems. She is also a wizard at coaxing local authority lawyers to get the job done.’
Key clients
- C G Fry and Son Ltd
- Yelland Quay Limited
- Colethrop Farm Limited
- Cornwall Council
- Devon County Council
- Pennon/South West Water
- Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Met Police)
- St Austell Brewery
- Bird & Bird
- Great Ormond Street Hospital
Work highlights
- Providing ongoing advice to Colethrop Farm Limited in relation to existing consents and planning agreements for a 2,250-home multi phased housing, allotment and community-based development at Hunts Grove and Colethrop Farm.
- Acting for Great Ormond Street Hospital on the redevelopment of the Children's Cancer Centre by obtaining consent for a large scale development, negotiating and agreeing a comprehensive section 106 agreement and section 278 highways agreement and advising regarding the planning issues.
- Acting for the Cornwall Council in the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Roads Order and Common Land Order for the proposed new 3.9-mile St Austell to A30 link road in Cornwall.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Mark Howard
Other key lawyers
Helen Hutton; Sarah Reardon; Harriet Grimes; Grace Bravery