Philip Robson

Profile

Philip has a broad planning and environmental practice. He acts for developers and local authorities throughout the country, at all stages of the process – preparation of applications, local plan examination, injunctions, prosecutions, inquiries and High Court appeals.

This has included residential schemes, compulsory purchase orders and on a number of high proﬁle and large-scale developments.

He has been consistently ranked as one of the top rated planning juniors in the country.

Year of Call: 2011

Areas of expertise

Planning

Philip has built a practice representing and advising local planning authorities, developers and rule 6 parties in all areas of planning law.

Residential

Philip has appeared in a significant number of inquiries and hearings, covering a range of key issues.

Some recent examples include:

Land to the North West of Fiddington, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury – Successful appeal against refusal of permission for 460 dwellings – led by Paul Tucker QC for client, Robert Hitchins Ltd
New Lane, York – A recovered appeal for 300 units. Main issue as whether or not the site should be designated as Green Belt.
Land off Brain Valley Avenue, Black Notley – Representing Gladman Development Ltd for he construction of 80 homes.
Land at Hawkhurst Golf Club – Development in the High Weald AONB
Land at Manor Farm, South Somerset – Development affecting a GII* listed property.
Land at Boroughbridge Road, York – acting for the LPA against development within the York Green Belt
Oakham Road, Somerby – acting for Hazelton Homes for the construction of 32 dwellings. Issues relating to ﬂooding.
Land East of Gleneagles Way, Hatﬁeld Peverel – Acting for David Wilson Homes on a called in appeal for the construction of up to 120 dwellings. Issues relating to 5 year housing land supply and landscape.
Land North of Ashby Road, Tamworth – called in appeal for the construction of up to 1000 homes. Representing the Highways Authority focusing the operation of a monitor and manage scheme on highways issues.
Land South of West Land, Ripon – called in appeal for the construction of 390 houses involving issues relating to heritage assets, a World Heritage Site and 5 year housing land supply.
Hookstone Chase, Harrogate – advising the developer through the application stage to successful appeal for residential development of a former employment site.
Wandle Trading Estate, Mitcham – Inquiry into a section 73 inquiry seeking to change the layout and house type designs following the purchase of the site by a new developer.

Alongside a busy appeals practice, Philip regularly advises developers, land promoters and LPAs on issues relating to residential schemes. This includes strategic advice relating to the preparation of applications with issues relating to Green Belt, local plan development and linked infrastructure.

Mixed Use and other forms of development

Philip has acted on appeal and advised on a number of large mixed use schemes, involving retail, care homes, employment uses, for local authorities and developers.

Recent examples include:

Great Heys – development of a 64 bed care home.
Knapp House Activity Centre, Bideford - mixed use development comprising marina, hotel, medical centre, food store, community hall, retail units/ café, care home/ dementia unit, assisted living units, up to 300 dwellings and 80 holiday dwelling. The case involved issues of noise and viability.
Audlem Road, Stapeley - 189 dwellings; local centre (Class A1 to A5 inclusive and D1) with a maximum floor area of 1,800 sq.m); employment development (B1b, B1c, B2 and B8); primary school site; public open space including new village green, children’s play area and allotments, green infrastructure including ecological area.
Old Mill, Sandbach - Hybrid Planning Application for development comprising: a foodstore, petrol filling station and ancillary kiosk/convenience store, drive-through restaurant, drive- through coffee shop, farm shop and 2 no. retail 'pod' units, erection of a care home, 92 new dwellings, conversion of existing building to 2 dwellings and refurbishment of two existing dwellings.
Philip also has experience advising on applications to crematorium development and appearing at inquiries covering such development. This has included:
Land South of Green Lane, Doncaster – Appearing at a public inquiry into crematorium development in the Doncaster Green Belt.

Enforcement

Philip has a busy enforcement practice advising and appearing at appeals for land owners and LPAs. This has included a number of cases relating to caravan sites, change of use, unauthorized development.

Philip also has experience in agent of change cases relating to the impact of new development on existing businesses.

Other

Successfully acted for Doncaster Council in opposing development for Crematorium– 2022”

Download Planning Profile

Public and Administrative Law

Philip has experience bringing and defending proceedings in the Planning Court, covering a broad spectrum of legal issues involving grants of planning permission, appeal decisions, and enforcement and injunctions.

Newey v South Hams DC [2018] EWHC 1872 (Admin) – concerning the application of the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 to the decision to discharge a planning condition.

Forest of Dean DC v SOSCLG [2016] EWHC 421 (Admin) – key authority on the interpretation of NPPF §14 and footnote 9.

Jane Lewis v Bath and North East Somerset Council – Acting for the claimant, the Council consented to quash a grant of planning permission due to a misinterpretation of local plan policies and national policies on conservation areas.

Graham Lock v Worcester City Council – Acting for the claimant, the Council consented to judgment to quash a grant of planning permission due to a failure to take into account consultation responses and a misleading oﬃcer report.

Lingley Estates and Redrow Homes v Cheshire West and Chester Council – Acting for the defendant in a claim against the adoption of the Council’s CIL schedule. The claim was dismissed at an oral renewal hearing.

Download Public and Administrative Law Profile

Compulsory Purchase, Infrastructure and Energy

Philip has a growing practice in compulsory purchase, infrastructure and energy. He has been involved in a number of projects, both large and small.

Recent examples include:

Advising the developer on the Coventry Airport Gigafactory.
Representing Highways England at the DCO into the dualling of the A47.
Appearing for, and providing ongoing advice to, the local planning authority at the DCO hearings into the dualling of the A303 in Somerset.
Appearing at the inquiry into the construction a Renewable Energy Centre – energy from waste.
Representing local authorities and objectors at several CPO inquiries.
Advising on the effect of a CPO on minerals and mining rights.
Advising on a large salt pipeline.
Advising on the EIA at the proposed Swansea Tidal Lagoon.
Advising on various issues relating to wind and solar development.

Philip recently produced a paper on the role for renewables in the economic recovery from the Covid 19 crisis – available here

Download Compulsory Purchase, Infrastructure and Energy Profile

Memberships

PEBA

UKELA

Qualifications

BVC, BPP Holborn

LLB (Hons), King’s College London

MSc, Birkbeck College, University of London

Recommendations

Chambers UK 2023

"Great client service, always approachable and timely in providing responses. He is pragmatic and able to take opposing views into consideration."

"Very accessible and easy to work with."

"Brilliant junior and a star of the future. Also an excellent inquiry advocate."

Legal 500 2023

"Philip is a skilled advocate and routinely provides detailed but pragmatic legal advice. A particular strength is his closing submissions in planning appeals; he cuts right through to the heart of the issues and makes clear and concise legal arguments. His manner is professional but extremely approachable. He is a delight to work with."

Chambers UK 2022

"His written advocacy is very eloquent, and he is also very personable and easy to deal with."

Legal 500 2021

"He gives extremely clear and strong advice the likes of which we have rarely seen. He cuts through matters with extraordinary clarity and this strength of clarity can be seen not only in his written advice but also in his advice in person and as an advocate."