No5 Barristers' Chambers - Excellence is at the heart of everything we do.
Background

Planning

"No5 are a go-to chambers for planning matters."

Legal 500 2025

"No5 has matured into a great set with broad and deep expertise. Their training programme is well established and the clerks are good and efficient, unstuffy and very pleasant to deal with."

Legal 500 2025

"The clerks are quick to respond and quick to understand needs."

Chambers UK 2025

"The clerks are excellent. They will always confirm within the hour whether counsel has the availability to take on the advice that you need and give a good estimate of costs."

Chambers UK 2025

"No5 has a wide range of expertise across junior to senior level, making for good availability. No5 offers valuable local authority seminar opportunities at value which brings engagement and understanding."

Legal 500 2025

"No5 Barristers' Chambers is truly a very professional chambers and always provides excellent service."

Legal 500 2023

"No5 Barristers' Chambers is a good set. The KCs and the juniors are very able, and the clerking is exceptional."

Legal 500 2023

"No5 has a wealth of talent and expertise."

Chambers UK 2023

"The clerking is very good and very accessible at all levels. They are always keen to help."

Chambers UK 2018

Chambers has a long-standing reputation for quality advisory and advocacy services in Planning Law, dating back more than half a century.

Our members have been instructed in some of the most important cases (Tesco v Dundee, BDW Trading v Secretary of State, Richborough Estates v Cheshire East BC) and many of the most significant and controversial planning proposals including new town settlements, large scale employment, nuclear power stations, sports stadia, new roads and green energy.

The team ‘has an established reputation for excellence in planning law’ and offers advisory and advocacy services at all levels, from leading KCs to very junior barristers. Our members provide advice from the very conception of a development to its conclusion, whether that be achieving planning consent, at appeal or through to legal challenges in the courts. We assist at every stage in the process, from pre application to planning committee, during an appeal process and through the courts.

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Members act on behalf of developers, land promoters, housebuilders, energy providers, local authorities and private individuals, including local action groups.

Get in touch

For more information:


Expertise

Planning Barristers

Peter Goatley KC

Call 1992 | Silk 2020

Richard Humphreys KC

Call 1986 | Silk 2006

Paul Cairnes KC

Call 1980 | Silk 2016

Christopher Young KC

Call 1997 | Silk 2018

Hugh Richards

Call 1992

Rowena Meager

Call 2007

Jack Smyth

Call 2007

Tobin Byers

Call 2017

Jessica Allen

Call 2019

Sioned Davies

Call 2019

Anna Stein

Call 2023

Paul Cairnes KC

Call 1980 | Silk 2016

Planning Clerks

Marc Forrest-Thomas

Practice Director, Planning & Environment

Emily Johnston

Planning & Environment Clerk

Shayna Charles-Rankine

Planning and Business & Property Junior Clerk

Leanne Hillery

Planning & Environment Clerk

Related News, Resources and Events

Events


Annual Planning 2026


Date: 23 Mar 2026 - Time: 9am - 4:30pm GMT

Location: Eastside Rooms

Past Events


Greenbelt Summit

The LURA 2023 spells out change for planning. It aims to bring planning into the 21st Century, to get us building again and to deliver…

Past Events


The Forestry Act : How not to get caught out

Scott Stemp, Daniel Henderson and Jessica Allen are hosting a seminar on 15th October on the Forestry Act 1967. The talk looks to guide landowners…

Podcasts


The Planning Podcast Episode 60: NPPF Flashpoint No4

“Vision Led” – what is it and what does it mean?The new “Severe Test” – for traffic impact, Where on earth is Manual for Streets…

Podcasts


The Planning Podcast Episode 59 – Logistics

Freight and logistics are a huge part of the UK Economy. The new draft NPPF provides for the first time a specific national policy for…

Podcasts


The Planning Podcast Episode 058 – The NPPF Consultation and Older People’s Housing

The Government has long recognised the “critical” need for more specialist accommodation for elderly people. The UK has a rapidly ageing population; 17% of the…

Podcasts


The Planning Podcast Ep 057 – NPPF Flashpoints: No1 Veteran Trees  

The draft NPPF proposes to change the definition of veteran trees. Around 3 to 4 times as many trees may be covered by the new…

News


Lancaster City Council v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government & Anor [2026] EWHC 263 (Admin).

The case revolved around a s.73 application to vary a condition which required housing types, standards and floor plans to be in accordance with approved…

News


Planning appeal allowed for 115 homes in Walsall

Planning Inspector Gilbert-Wooldridge granted outline permission for 115 homes in Walsall’s Green Belt land, accepting the Appellant’s case that the site should be categorised as…

News


Andrews v. Kronospan Ltd [2025] EWHC 2429 (TCC)

Judgment in the group litigation private nuisance case of Andrews v. Kronospan Ltd [2025] EWHC 2429 (TCC) provides many practical lessons in the conduct of such…

News


High Court refuses Judicial Review of decision to redevelop Bristol Zoo Gardens, providing guidance on Biodiversity Net Gain, Carbon Calculations and Open Space

The High Court has refused a Claim for judicial review of a challenge to a decision to redevelop Bristol Zoo Gardens to include 196 residential…

News


Haytop Country Park Ltd v Amber Valley BC: The Court of Appeal confirms that caravan site licensing must operate “in harmony” with planning control

Introduction The Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Haytop Country Park Ltd v Amber Valley Borough Council provides useful clarification on the relationship between planning…

Publications


Planning Appeal Allowed for Steel Processing Facility in West Suffolk

Planning Inspector Diane Cragg has allowed an appeal for a steel storage, processing and distribution facility in West Suffolk countryside, overturning the council’s refusal. The…

News, Podcasts


The Planning Podcast Ep 056 – Unpacking CG Fry in the Supreme Court

Following the much-anticipated hand-down by the Supreme Court of judgment in CG Fry v SSHCLG [2025] UKSC 35, Daniel Henderson is joined by James Corbet…

Past Events


Local Planning Authority Seminar

Due to a change in circumstances, the No5 Planning and Environment Group’s Local Planning Authority Seminar has been changed to a webinar. The online event…

News


Planning and Environment group appoints new Heads of Group

No5’s Planning and Environment group is pleased to announce the appointment of Thea Osmund-Smith and Hugh Richards as our new joint Heads of Group, and…

News


Quarry Mews Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWHC 1968 (Admin)

Today (1st August 2025), the High Court has handed down judgment in the case of Quarry Mews Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and…

Publications


Important judgment on the siting of crematoria, and reminders of key principles of statutory interpretation handed down today

Today, the Supreme Court has handed down judgment in the case of Wathen-Fayed v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] UKSC…

View all Planning related news

Clerk Team

Marc Forrest-Thomas

Practice Director, Planning & Environment

marct@no5.com

Emily Johnston

Planning & Environment Clerk

emilyj@no5.com

Shayna Charles-Rankine

Planning and Business & Property Junior Clerk

shaynar@no5.com

Leanne Hillery

Planning & Environment Clerk

leanneh@no5.com

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