Lee heads the firm's national Planning & Infrastructure Consents team. He is a specialist planning solicitor and has considerable experience in all aspects of planning and related law. Lee’s practice has a particular emphasis on major infrastructure & energy projects, strategic residential and regeneration schemes. He has notable DCO and compulsory purchase order experience, which includes leading teams advising on the promotion of orders for various major schemes. Lee regularly advises in relation to strategic residential and new town developments, including complex planning agreements for multi-phase sites. He has notable knowledge of the complex area of environmental impact assessment law, local government powers and an enviable track record and experience in relation to judicial review challenges in a planning context. Lee has advised on some of the highest value and complex projects in the country, including on the first major infrastructure project to be successfully promoted under the Planning Act 2008 and various other Development Consent Order applications, representing promoters, statutory undertakers, public bodies on energy, infrastructure and regeneration projects. Lee is commended for his strategic advice, collaborative approach and attention to detail, to help clients successfully navigate consents processes. Examples of recent experience include: Advising Welsh Government in respect Wylfa Nuclear Power Station throughout the DCO process Mersey Tidal Energy DCO Various solar developers on their DCO proposals Lead adviser on the Harlow & Gilston Garden Town Project, a new town to comprise 23,000 houses O&H Land on their Wixam Park development in Central Beds, comprising 1,200 dwellings YORR dualling scheme, including planning, EIA and promoting CPO Rookery South DCO in respect of their Resource Recovery Facility Northern Powergrid on full range of consents matters, including various DCO’s, CPO & necessary wayleaves Supreme Court success for developer in Paddico v Kirklees on village green de-registration Court of Appeal success in widely reported case of Thornton Hall v Wirral & Thornton Holdings on JR time limits Securing all orders for J10, M6 Improvement Scheme, a unique collaboration between National Highways and Walsall
England - Yorkshire And The Humber • Real estate
Weightmans
The planning team at Weightmans is highly regarded for the ‘strength in depth and attention to detail’ it provides when advising on significant, high-value energy, transportation and residential development projects. In addition to assisting with Development Consent Orders and compulsory purchases, the practice is very well versed in handling contentious work and planning appeals. With the ability to advise on planning applications as well as act in High Court challenges and judicial reviews, practice head Lee Gordon is sought after for the breadth of his expertise in complex projects. Michelle Spark left the practice in December 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Weightmans are excellent. They provide strength in depth and attention to detail, but also strategic vision.’
‘Lee Gordon is a star. He is excellent, an exceptionally good lawyer who is highly meticulous, but also imaginative. He is also very popular with clients. I have recommended him to many clients.’
Key clients
- Barratt & David Wilson Homes
- Bolton Council
- Casey Group Limited
- Charnwood Borough Council
- City of York Council
- Cotswold District Council
- Gloucestershire County Council
- Harlow & Gilston Garden Town partner authorities
- Leeds City Council
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- Merseyrail
- Northern Powergrid
- Nottinghamshire County Council
- O&H Land
- Populo Living
- Prospect Estates Limited
- Robinsons Brewery
- Royal Mail Group
- Tewkesbury Borough Council
- Thornton Hall Hotel Limited
- Welsh Government
Work highlights
- Advised O&H on its application for its Wixam Park mixed-use development in Central Bedfordshire, which is to include 1,200 new dwellings and major infrastructure.
- Advised Liverpool City Region Combined Authority on the promotion of a multi-billion major tidal energy project.
- Advised City of York Council on the York Outer Ring Road Dualling Project, a £75m scheme, including advice on planning and a potential CPO.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Lee Gordon