Vincent Fraser QC

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Year of Call: 1981
Year of Silk: 2001

Vincent is a leading practitioner in many aspects of Administrative and Public law advising regularly on several areas which are closely associated with Vincent's other practice areas, including Education, Highways, Licensing and Local Government Law. 

Education

Vincent advises on wide range of education issues, including special needs, education reorganisation and finance.

Highways

Vincent regularly advises on and appears in cases involving highways and rights of way including litigation and footpath and rights of way inquiries. He has appeared in cases addressing the existence, extent and status of highways. He has regularly appeared in court and at inquiries addressing stopping up and diversion of highways. He has advised on and promoted traffic regulation orders at inquiry. He has appeared in arbitration addressing utilities in the highway.

Human Rights

Vincent advises on and appears in litigation addressing human rights.

Judicial Review

Vincent has extensive experience advising on and appearing in judicial reviews.

Local Government

Vincent deals with local authority powers, administration and finance.

Election law

Vincent has experience of boundary reviews, for example successfully representing Wirral BC at the review into the Merseyside constituencies.

Licensing

Vincent has extensive experience advising and appearing in licensing cases.

Significant Cases:

Ardagh Glass v Chester City Council [2010] EWCA Civ 172, [2009] EWHC 745 (Admin) [2009] Env. L. R. 34 - Planning, local government, environment - environmental impact assessment, industrial development, retrospective permission, unauthorised development, enforcement, planning permission, local authorities.

Barratt Development Plc v Wakefield MDC [2009] EWHC 3208 - planning, housing, local government -  affordable housing, PPS 3, core strategy, planning policy, regional spatial strategies

Younger Homes (Northern) Ltd v First Secretary of State [2004] EWCA Civ [2005] Env. L. R. 12 [2005] 1 P&CR 14 - Planning, environment, local government - Environmental impact assessment, planning permission, screening opinions, regulations, delegated authority, prejudice.

Kelly v Liverpool City Council [2003] EWCA Civ 197 [2003] 2 All ER 772 - Licensing, local government - fees, inspections, licences, local authority powers and duties, private hire vehicles, taxis.

R(Pryterch) v Conwy BC [2001] EWHC Admin 869 - Planning, human rights, environment, local government.

R(Barry) v Liverpool City Council [2001] EWCA Civ 384 (2001) LGLR 40 - Licensing, local government - entertainment licences, doormen registration scheme, power to charge.

Enterprise Inns Plc v SOSETR (2001) 81 P&CR 18 - Compulsory purchase, limitation, time for challenge, delay, local authorities powers and duties, conservation areas.

Publications:

Planning Law Digest (Sweet & Maxwell) 1992

Recommendations:

Chambers UK 2013:

Solicitors say Vincent Fraser QC "is a formidable advocate" who is "intellectually and academically very, very good." Adept at taking on all manner of planning cases, he is particularly known for appearing for and advising retailers, local authorities, housebuilders, wind farm developers and leading energy companies. Of late, he has been appearing for Morrisons at an inquiry into a supermarket proposal in Wells. Vincent Fraser QC proves particularly active in wind farm cases. Recent representative work for him includes successfully acting for Cornwall Light & Power in relation to a challenge brought by Hargreaves to consent given for the construction of a wind farm. He also appeared in the Frodsham wind farm inquiry acting on behalf of Peel Energy.

Vincent Fraser QC is an experienced practitioner with expertise in planning and local government law. He recently represented an authority during the consultation process for changing electoral boundaries.

Chambers UK 2012:

Vincent Fraser QC has acted in a variety of environment cases in the past year, including for a landowner in a dispute over the interpretation of the Waste and Landfill Directives.

His broad expertise covers local government finance and administration, registration of common land, parking issues and judicial review. He recently advised Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council on the restructuring of its legal services and its relevant powers, and successfully represented Wakefield District Council planning authority in a judicial review challenge to a grant of planning permission.

Vincent Fraser QC is felt to "quickly get to the heart of the matter." He has a depth of experience in public inquiries and judicial challenges where he focuses on retail, residential and commercial developments, renewable energy, waste projects and compulsory purchase orders.

Chambers UK 2010:

Vincent Fraser QC takes on a wide range of local government matters including finance and administration, but is best known for his planning prowess "an incredibly good advocate and one of the most tenacious cross-examiners out there".

Vincent Fraser QC takes on a wide range of local government matters including finance and administration, but is best known for his planning prowess "an incredibly good advocate and one of the most tenacious cross-examiners out there".

His knowledgeable and intelligent approach to cases makes him a solid choice for difficult or complex cases.

He is an admired expert in town and country planning. He has gained a robust reputation for environmental impact work, recently advising on a large wind farm development near Doncater.

Chambers UK 2009:

Vincent Fraser QC handles top-end work, from town and country planning, CPO and compensation to education and local government finance and administration.

Vincent Fraser QC remains "the go-to man for wind farm enquiries" and recently advised EON UK Renewables during proceedings concerning the Humberhead proposals.

Chambers UK 2008:

Vincent Fraser is "one of the cleverest advocates in the North West and has a good grasp of the issues and an amazing capacity for the finer points of legal interpretation." With a "Gordon Brown style of advocacy," he has expertise in a variety of planning matters including CPOs and highways.

Chambers Guide 2007:

'"A formidable advocate" Vincent Fraser QC is "excellence personified". Vastly experienced in the inquiry context, he acts both for those promoting or objecting to large retail, housing energy and leisure schemes. CPO and highways inquiries also keep him busy.'

'Known for his pure local government practice, he is heavily involved in town centre redevelopment as well as town and country planning.'

Chambers Guide 2006:

"Kings Chambers - ....this nationally reputed set was lauded as one of the dominant planning chambers....its members were further praised for the impressive scope of work undertaken and "quality results produced" which ensures that "you are never disappointed". "Shrewd" Vincent Fraser QC "excels in the art of negotiation" and has a "high calibre" national practice. His expertise was rated as "second to none" and he continues to act in high-profile local planning inquiries."

Planning Magazine:

Vincent is included amongst the top planning Barristers as chosen by leading planning lawyers and consultants in England and Wales.

Memberships:

Planning and Environmental Bar Association
Administrative Law Bar Association
UK Environmental Law Association
Northern and North Eastern Circuit

	Career & Education
University:	Oxford (University College) Open Scholarship Sweet & Maxwell Prize MA (1st class) Jurisprudence
Year of Call:	1981 Gray's Inn Holker Entrance Award Reid Scholar Band Prize
Queen's Counsel:	2001
Recorder:	2002
Official Appointments:	Deputy High Court Judge (Admin Court) 2010