2. 2 Planning | Planning in London
London’s planning landscape
The Mayor’s Opportunity Areas provide the greatest focus for these initiatives at present
but we expect the use of the Mayor’s planning powers elsewhere to expand whatever the
result of the Mayoral Election in 2016.
Offices
We are also seeing growth in the City and West End office and commercial market as
developers respond to the lack of supply by seeking new permissions on sites where until
very recently the potential values would have steered them towards residential including
the utilisation of the recently introduced vacant building credits and permitted
development rights to allow changes of use to residential.
This resurgence raises potentially significant political and planning issues where the need
for residential development is most acute and the right balance will need to be struck.
Debate is also on-going as to the best method of delivering affordable housing, which is a
key factor in most significant planning applications. As the UK recovers from the recession
new planning policy and legislation is likely to emerge to seek a greater contribution.
Retail
The retail sector is also in a state of rapid change as major retailers adjust their physical
requirements for new premises to align with often highly successful on line offers and major
new shopping centre developments, in particular at Croydon and Brent Cross, are being
designed to enhance their offer and environments to draw customers in.
Coupled with this, however, is increasing concern about the need to enhance many of
London’s underperforming high streets and we see a growing political will to intervene with
more radical action to stem this, again with the potential for greater involvement of the
Mayor of London.
Political reform
The planning system has long been regarded by developers and overseas investors as being
too complex , uncertain and a constraint to delivery. Politicians at national and local level
have started to respond to this.
Recently the Government has introduced welcome reforms to simplify the planning process
and kick-start development.
In London, however, there is a growing sense that at a local level there has not been a step
change in attitude and projects of strategic importance have been delayed. Significant cuts
to the London Boroughs’ budgets have also had a noticeable effect on their planning
resource.
Housing and infrastructure
This frustration is largely focussed on London’s need to deliver very significant amounts of
new housing and infrastructure as a result of demographic changes and to accommodate
the rapid predicted growth in its population.
This, coupled with the need for additional infrastructure such as Crossrail 2, will lead to
increased powers being devolved to the Mayor of London andTransport for London in
coming years to push through the delivery of planning permissions for significant residential
and other schemes where there is delay at the local level.
Commercial drivers combine with powerful economic, demographic and political pressures to foster the
innovation and regeneration which have helped make London a truly global city.
The Greater London Authority has assessed a need
for between 49,000 and 62,000 new homes a year over the
next ten to twenty years to accommodate this growth.
3. 3Planning | Planning in London
Martin Evans
Head of Planning Group
Partner
T +44 (0)20 7524 6950
m.evans@nabarro.com
London’s planning landscape
We also have excellent and longstanding relations with the public authorities in London
built on a long history of working with them, advising them as clients and presenting
training to their legal and planning departments.
We also work in tandem with Nabarro’s wider market leading Real Estate team to provide
comprehensive advice on all development issues in London including rights to light advice.
We are particularly recognised for our practical approach to often complex issues and for
having a culture and leadership based on teamwork.Teamwork not just with our colleagues
but with our clients and their consultant teams, the Greater London Authority and the
London Boroughs. We are working closely with the leaders in the fields of planning
consultancy, master planning, architecture, agency, valuation and engineering.
We greatly value these relationships and they have helped us develop a wide perspective of
planning opportunities and potential pitfalls and practical solutions for our clients.
Logistics and hotels
The development of logistics facilities and hotels is also increasing to service the growing
economy of London.The ultimate decision on airport expansion will clearly effect where
investment in that sector is directed in the longer term.
How we can help
At Nabarro we have one of the most highly rated and largest teams of dedicated planning
lawyers in London and we are currently advising clients on some of the largest and highest
profile regeneration schemes in the capital.
The maps below highlight a selection of just some of the developments we are working on
or have recently advised on.
Our clients range from the UK’s leading development companies and REITs to overseas
investors / developers, Sovereign Wealth Funds and public authorities. We work on projects
in London across all property sectors including residential, office, mixed use, retail,
infrastructure, student accommodation, the private rented sector, hotels, commercial,
logistics and sports / leisure.
We help our clients successfully navigate the planning system from the evolution of
planning policy at a national and local level, developing robust planning strategies to utilise
the latest planning regulations to improve project viability, using compulsory purchase
powers to assemble land for larger developments, negotiating all relevant planning and
infrastructure legal agreements and minimising judicial review risk.
In this complex environment developers, inward
investors new to the UK and the public authorities
need to be fully aware of the current and emerging
strategic and political planning landscape.
6. 6 Planning | Planning in London
Contacts
Martin Evans
Head of Planning Group
Partner
T +44 (0)20 7524 6950
m.evans@nabarro.com
Christopher Stanwell
Partner
T +44 (0)20 7524 6523
c.stanwell@nabarro.com
Joshua Risso-Gill
Partner
T +44 (0)20 7524 6124
j.risso-gill@nabarro.com
Christopher Bowes
Partner
T +44 (0)114 279 4006
c.bowes@nabarro.com
7. 7Planning | Planning in London
What others say about our Planning Group
“They’re outstanding, they’re very client-
oriented in terms of understanding our
business and they’re easy to deal with. A
responsive and professional outfit.”
Chambers, 2015
“A ‘bright, very responsive commercial team.’”
Legal 500, 2012
Shortlisted by Planning Magazine for the 2014 Planning Law Firm Award for our work on the Brent
Cross Cricklewood regeneration project in North London.
“Theteam also continuesto generate work
fromthe strengthof itstall buildings expertise,
advisingon projects such as Paddington Basin,
the 39-storey skyscraper at 100 Bishopsgate
and, most recently,the ‘Quill’toweron
instructionfrom Investream.”
Chambers, 2012
Planning | Planning in London 7
“They talk to you on a pragmatic and open
basis, and they’re easy to understand rather
than blinding you with legalese. They are
able to bring their experience to that advice
and that gives us comfort.”
Chambers, 2015
