Frances Patterson QC

Practice:

Town and country planning
Environmental law
Compulsory purchase and compensation
Highways
Education
Administrative law
Judicial review
Statutory challenges
Community care law

Profile:

Frances is a leading practitioner in all aspects of town and country planning, environmental law, compulsory purchase and compensation, highways, education, administrative law and community care law.

She appears regularly in inquiries, and the Lands Tribunal. She has promoted large CPO schemes, projects under the Transport and Works Act, and the Harbours Acts as well as acting for and against retail and leisure developments, housing schemes, minerals, landfill and waste disposal projects.

She appears regularly also in the Administrative Court in judicial review matters as well as statutory challenges. She appears in the Crown Court involved in environmental matters.

Significant Work includes:

Appearing successfully in the Court of Appeal on the interpretation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations

Acting successfully for UK Coal on proposals to construct a rail freight distribution terminal and redevelopment of a former coal site

Acting successfully for the University of York on proposals for significant expansion through a new campus in the Green Belt

Acting for the National Grid in construction of new pipelines 

Advising on waste disposal strategies and compliance with UK and EC Legislation and Directives 

Acting on various Housing Market CPO’s – Queens Road/Bedford, Klondyke

Acting on various Redevelopment CPO schemes in Liverpool, Wakefield and Halton

Successfully promoting the Heysham to M6 Link Road securing planning permission from the Secretary of State
for a £130 Million scheme.

Advising and acting for English Partnerships on Omega, the largest business park in Europe, and on compulsory purchase and redevelopment issues in the centre of Liverpool.

Promoting successfully through a Call In Inquiry a mixed use sports arena for Salford Reds Rugby League Club which required enabling retail development in an out of centre location.

Acting for the University of York in the promotion of a £600+m new campus in the Green Belt involving substantial policy, heritage, conservation and sustainability issues.

Promoting Housing Market Renewal Area compulsory purchase orders within Merseyside.

Promoting town centre redevelopment proposals jointly instructed by the developer and local authority in Wakefield and Doncaster.

Acting in the Byker Ash environmental prosecutions, promoting Harbour Revision, Harbour Empowerment Orders and Transport and Works Orders for a new harbour and harbour authority in East Yorkshire, taking part in retail, housing, listed building and waste disposal inquiries across the country.

Recent advisory work has included advice on flooding matters, waste disposal and mineral matters, community care and education judicial review, professional negligence and Lands Tribunal issues.

Clients include Manchester Airport plc, Barrett Homes, Bovis Homes, Redrow plc,  Department of Transport, English Partnerships, local authorities, major corporations developers and retailers

Significant Reported Recent Cases:

Belfields Ltd v Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council [2008] EWHC 1975
Samuel Smith Old Brewery v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and UK Coal [2008]
EWHC 1313 Admin
Lewis R ( on the application of) v Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council [2007] EWHC 3166 Admin
Horner v Lancashire County Council [2007] EWCA 784
McCabe and Others v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government  [2007] EWHC 959
Powell and Others v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2007] 2051
Regina (Confederation Of Passenger Transport UK) -v- Humber Bridge Board and Another [2004] QB 310 (CA)
Roberts and another -v- South Gloucester Council [2003] P & C R 411 (CA)
Manchester City Council -v- Railtrack plc [2002] ALL ER (D) 137 (QBD)
Regina (On the application of Sullivan) -v- Warwick District Council [2003] ALL ER (D) 236 (CA)
Maile v Manchester CC (1997) 74 P & CR 115
Modern Homes (Whitworth) Ltd v Lancashire CC [1998] EGCS 73
North Lincolnshire Council, ex p Horticultural and Garden Products Sales (Humberside) Ltd [1998] Env LR 295
R v Local Commissioner for Administration ex p Liverpool CC [1999] 3 All ER 85
R v Secretary of State for the Environment ex p Webster [1999] JPL 1113

Recommendations:

Chambers UK 2008:

"Head of Chambers, Frances Patterson QC continues to manage a leading planning and environment practice.  Her most recent work includes acting for the University of York on the proposal for the development of a new campus on greenbelt land.  This generated issues relating to conservation, listed buildings and protests from locals."

Frances Patterson continues to impress sources with her "wealth of experience" in retail, housing and regeneration projects, as well as in CPOs. Solicitors say: "she is fun to work with because she manages to combine team player ability witha sensitive approach and excellent planning knowledge."

Chambers UK 2007:
 "Head of Chambers, Frances Patterson QC is a 'top-class silk' who 'doesn't pussyfoot around the problems and never waivers in her advice.' Her reputation for providing representation at major planning and CPO inquiries goes before her and her recent projects include promoting York University's proposed new campus on a greenbelt site.  Housing market renewal and regeneration schemes across the North also currently feature heavily in her caseload.

Chambers UK 2007 Leaders at the Bar - "Frances is a leading practitioner"

Legal 500 2008:-
"appeared for the council in the Court of Appeal case of Horner v Lancashire County Council , an environmental impact assessment"

Legal 500 2007: - 
"Frances Patterson QC ..... boasts an excellent silk's practice"

Chambers Guide 2006:
"Kings Chambers...this nationally reputed set was lauded as one of the dominant planning chambers. With "highly distinguished" barristers at all levels, its members were further praised for the impressive scope of work undertaken and "quality results produced" which ensures that "you are never disappointed". Frances Patterson QC "never fails to impress". "Alarmingly effective", her efficiency and responsiveness to matters were highlighted as reasons for her consistently being a "number one choice". She frequently appears at inquiries and at the Lands Tribunal, promoting large CPO schemes. Acting for and against retail and leisure developments, housing schemes, landfill waste and disposal projects also form part of her extensive practice". 

She is a recognised leader in the fields of Environmental Law, Planning Law and Local Government Law.

Memberships:

Member of the Law Reform Working Party on Planning and Environmental Law;
Planning and Environment Bar Association and the Administrative Law Bar Association.
Northern & North Eastern Circuits

Panels and other appointments:
Deputy High Court Judge (authorised to sit in Queen’s Bench and Administrative Court)
Assistant Boundary Commissioner
Recorder
Chair of an Independent Inquiry into the Death of a Child by her mentally ill mother

Career & Education:

Head of Kings Chambers, 2004.

Joined 40 King Street, Manchester, now Kings Chambers 1979.
Specialised in all aspects of planning and environmental law. The main focus being advisory, inquiry and High Court work.

University:
Degree:
Year of Call:

Assistant Recorder:

QC:

Bencher of Middle Temple:

Deputy High Court Judge:

Leicester
BA (Hons)
1977(Middle Temple) Campbell Foster prizewinner
Winston Churchill Pupillage Award from the Middle Temple.

1997

1998

2005

2008

Frances Patterson

Year of Call: 1977

Year of Silk: 1988

Recorder: 2000

Head of Chambers

Deputy High Court Judge

Assistant Boundary Commissioner

Specialises In:
Planning, Environment & Public Law

Clerked by:
 William Brown

 

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