Vincent Fraser QC

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Year of Call: 1981
Year of Silk: 2001
 

Vincent is a leading practitioner in all aspects of Environmental and town and country planning law advising regularly on numerous environmental issues, development proposals and challenges, and appearing at public inquiries and judicial challenges.

Environment

Appeals to the Secretary of State in relation to IPPC
Vincent has experience advising on IPPC.

Contaminated land
Vincent has considerable experience advising landowners and local authorities on contaminated land issues.

Disposal by landfill
Vincent has extensive experience advising on the regulatory and planning issues arising out of disposal by landfill and appearing in related matters.

Drainage law
Vincent advises on drainage issues.

Environmental Assessment
Vincent has extensive experience advising on and appearing in litigation addressing Environmental Assessment.

European Directives
Vincent has extensive experience advising on and appearing in litigation addressing European Directives.

Incineration
Vincent advises on and has appeared in inquiries addressing incineration.

Integrated pollution control
Vincent advises on a wide range of integrated pollution control issues.

Judicial review of permits, site licences and other environmental decisions
Vincent has appeared in a range of litigation and advises on issues concerning permits, site licences and other environmental decision

Noise abatement
Vincent advises on and has experience in litigation addressing noise abatement.

Prosecuting or defending in criminal or abatement proceedings relating to pollution etc.
Vincent has experience in criminal and abatement proceedings.

Waste treatment and disposal
Vincent has extensive experience appearing in and advising on waste treatment and disposal issues.

Water supply and sewerage requisitions
Vincent advises on water supply and sewerage requisitions.

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.

Wirral BC v Brock Plc [2004] EWCA Civ 1611 [2005] Env. L. R. 26 [2005] 2 P&CR 18 - Planning, mining, enforcement - EC Law, direct effect, directives, environmental impact assessment, extension of time, minerals, planning conditions, quarries, decisions.

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.

R(Bennett Fergusson Coal Ltd) v First Secretary of State [2003] EWHC 1858 (Admin) [2004] 1 P&CR 30 - Planning - change of use, coal, industrial processes, lawful development certificates, recycling, use classes order.

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

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

Lillis v North West Water Ltd [1999] RVR 12 - Compensation, limitation, delay, estoppels.

Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd v SOSE [1996] EG 163 (CS) - air traffic noise, proper interpretation of PPG 24

UK Waste Management Ltd v West Lancashire DC [1997] RTR 201 - road traffic regulation order, experimental waste restriction order, reasonable access to site, heavy goods vehicles.

Taylor v North West Water Ltd (1995) 70 P&CR 94 - Compulsory purchase, compensation, sewers and drains, valuation, title to land, damage.

Fallows v Gateshead MBC (1993) 66 P&CR 460 - Land Compensation Act 1973, noise pollution, roads, entitlement to compensation.

Publications:

Planning Law Digest (Sweet & Maxwell) 1992

Recommendations:

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".

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 FraserQC 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