Planning Judicial and Statutory Reviews

"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 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

Contact Clerks

Members are regularly instructed to appear in the Planning Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in judicial reviews, statutory appeals against Inspector and Secretary of State decisions (Section 288 TCPA 1990), challenges to enforcement appeal decisions (Section 289 TCPA 1990) and challenges to local plans (Section 113 PCPA 2004).

The group has a long history of appearing in many of the leading planning and environmental law cases, including:

Alconbury (R (Holding and Barnes Plc) v Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions) [2003] 2 AC 295
Tesco v Dundee (Tesco Stores Ltd v Dundee City Council [2012] UKSC 13)
Richborough Estates Partnership LLP and another v Cheshire East Borough Council [2017] UKSC 37.

The group has developed particular expertise in cases involving the interpretation of the National Planning Policy Framework (e.g. the presumption in favour of sustainable development, five-year housing land supply and Green Belt policy) and claimant-based judicial review, especially in respect of public consultation, Environmental Impact Assessment, Habitats Regulations and heritage issues.