Leanne Buckley-Thomson is a specialist practitioner in the areas of Business & Property and Planning law.
Leanne practices the following areas:
Leanne accepts instructions across a broad range of commercial litigation matters representing individuals through to larger businesses and organisations. Leanne is experienced in dealing with contested matters across all tracks at interlocutory hearings through to trial. She has a strong knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules and routinely deals with procedural matters such as applications for strike out, relief from sanctions, and default judgment. Her experience extends to obtaining and enforcing injunctions, including proceedings in relation to contempt.
Outside of Court, Leanne is a strong negotiator having trained as a civil and commercial mediator. She provides sensible and robust advice on tactical approaches to litigation and possible settlement, as well as moving forward to trial where appropriate. Leanne has vast experience drafting pleadings and providing detailed advices on prospects across a broad spectrum of civil issues including debt claims, contract and negligence, construction matters and nuisance.
Leanne is a specialist practitioner in both Housing and Planning Law.
In her housing practice, Leanne is a busy and experienced junior frequently instructed to act across a spectrum of housing and land law matters. She advises and represents tenants, landlords, businesses and occupiers through solicitors and agents as well as on a direct public access basis.
Housing
Leanne acts in a range of social and residential housing matters regarding all manner of security of tenure, with a focus on social housing. In particular Leanne routinely deals with:
Leanne has a particular interest in advising and representing clients in respect of homelessness appeals under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996. She is regularly instructed by both applicants and authorities to advise in this area both in respect of statutory appeals pursuant to section 204 and interim accommodation appeals pursuant to section 204A of the Act, and judicial review claims concerning other local authority decisions such as the refusal to accept a homelessness application.
Leanne is able to act in matters before all tribunals, including appellate work. She was most recently instructed to act in the matter of Rother D.C. v. Freeman-Roach [2018] EWCA Civ 368 an appeal concerning vulnerability in light of Hotak and Panayiotou.
General Property
Leanne has experience acting in a range of general property matters including:
In addition to court and advisory work, as a qualified trainer Leanne delivers seminars and more bespoke packages of training for charities, local authorities, businesses and other organisations.
Leanne is a specialist Planning and Housing practitioner. She has been previously recognised in Planning Magazine’s Guide to Planning Lawyers and Law Survey as one of the top planning juniors under 35. She was also included in the Women of Influence 2018 list in the RTPI’s The Planner magazine.
Leanne regularly advises and represents developers, Local Planning Authorities and Rule 6 Parties at all stages of the process on a broad range of planning matters including large residential developments, changes of use, stationing of mobile homes and caravans, development within residential curtilages and “granny annexes”, the interpretation and application of the Use Classes Order, Lawful Development Certificates, Assets of Community Value (ACVs), highways and Rights of Way. She has also advised on planning policy making and interpretation of policy.
Leanne’s dual expertise as both a planning and housing barrister, and her previous broad general civil litigation background, gives her a strong understanding of the litigation process which is particularly helpful in the context of injunctive proceedings in the County and High Court.
Leanne is regularly instructed to act for developers, Local Planning Authorities and Rule 6 Parties at inquiry and hearing covering a wide range of planning issues. She is an experienced advocate having appeared at more than 30 inquiries and hearings, both led and in her own right, since she started practising in planning law.
The main focus of Leanne’s work is on residential development projects, large and small.
Leanne has acted, both led and in her own right, at inquiries relating to motorway service area development and public rights of way.
Leanne is regularly instructed to act in respect of matters relating to planning enforcement.
In addition to representing parties at enforcement inquiries, Leanne also has experience advising and providing representation at
Court for local authorities and Defendants in respect of:
Given the importance of early action, Leanne is frequently instructed to advise in writing and in conference.
Successfully represented the Claimant in judicial review proceedings challenging a controversial grant of planning permission and listed building consent for development within the Bath World Heritage Site on heritage and other grounds.
Successful defence on appeal of the Local Planning Authority’s pursuit of enforcement action; the juridical basis for Murfitt and Somak Travel; the extent of Bowring and also compliance of ground (F) appeals with Article 1 Protocol 1. Led by Scott Stemp.
Outline application for a mixed-use development including up to 475 residential dwellings, station parking and a local centre. 2-week inquiry with issues including landscape, highways, heritage, prematurity and housing need. Represented the Appellant, led by Paul Cairnes Q.C.
Demolition and redevelopment to provide 72 residential units and commercial (class E) uses 1,116m2. 2-week inquiry with issues including vacant building credit, viability, employment land use and housing need. Represented the Appellant, led by Charles Banner Q.C.
Hybrid application for full planning permission in respect of 73 assisted living units within a village core building with ancillary facilities together with outline permission for up to 60 assisted living units with ancillary community space. 2-week inquiry with issues including need and policy on extra care, AONB (exceptional circumstances), landscape, design and 5YHLS. Represented the Appellant, led by Christopher Young Q.C.
Demolition and redevelopment for four to eleven storey development comprising 254 residential units. 2-week called-in inquiry with issues including Metropolitan Open Land (VSC), character and appearance, living conditions and affordable housing. Represented the Appellant, led by Christopher Young Q.C.
Outline application for a mixed-use development including up to 625 residential dwellings, up to 2.9ha of B1 employment land, and a canal corridor. 2-week called-in inquiry with issues including highways, infrastructure, AONB, heritage and flooding. Represented the Appellant, led by Christopher Young Q.C.
Outline application for an extra care development of up to 84 units including associated communal facilities. 2-week called-in inquiry with issues including the need for extra care, landscape, BMV land, Heritage and accessibility. Represented the Appellant, led by Christopher Young Q.C.
Demolition and redevelopment for four to eight storey development comprising 151 residential units and an estate road. 2-week called-in inquiry with issues including Metropolitan Open Land (VSC), character and appearance, living conditions and 5YHLS. Represented the Appellant, led by Christopher Young Q.C.
Outline application for the erection of a motorway service area including a facilities building, fuel filling station and up to 100-bedroom hotel. 2-week inquiry with issues including metropolitan Green Belt (VSC), landscape, BMV land, veteran trees and ancient woodland, biodiversity, and aviation safety. Represented the Appellant, led by Satnam Choongh.
2-day inquiry in respect of the proposed stopping up of public right of way.
WATCH ON YOUTUBE Presented by Leanne Buckley-Thomson, covering: writing your evidence preparing to give evidence delivering your evidence From the No5 Barristers Chambers Annual Local Planning…
With the ever-up-to-date-team of Leanne Buckley-Thomson, Howard Leithead and Oliver Lawence they have packaged up a short and quick fire review of what has made…
Leanne has experience acting and advising on both judicial review and statutory appeals to the High Court and above. Early advice can be invaluable and Leanne’s advice is comprehensive and accessible.
Leanne regularly delivers seminars and training across a broad range of planning topics. As a qualified trainer, she is able to produce more bespoke packages for local authorities, businesses and other organisations.
In addition to her instructions, as past Chair of the South Coast Young Planners Network Leanne remains an active member of the RTPI. She has been invited to speak at seminars and to judge awards.
Encouraging access to the profession is extremely important to Leanne and she frequently speaks at schools as well as to students. She has previously filmed a segment for the RTPI’s project with Fun Kidz Radio “Agent Plan-IT” to encourage school aged children to engage with planning. Leanne is also an active mentor.
WATCH ON YOUTUBE Presented by Leanne Buckley-Thomson, covering: writing your evidence preparing to give evidence delivering your evidence From the No5 Barristers Chambers Annual Local Planning…
With the ever-up-to-date-team of Leanne Buckley-Thomson, Howard Leithead and Oliver Lawence they have packaged up a short and quick fire review of what has made…
