Vincent Fraser QC Planning Barrister

Planning

Vincent is a leading practitioner in all aspects of planning and environmental law advising regularly on development proposals and challenges, and appearing at public inquiries and judicial challenges. He has particular experience in retail and commercial development, residential development, wind farms and renewable energy, waste and compulsory purchase. He has extensive experience promoting infrastructure projects and dealing with environmental and conservation issues. He regularly acts for retailers, leading energy companies, wind farm developers, housebuilders, local authorities and public bodies.

Housing

Vincent has extensive experience throughout the country promoting and resisting major residential development addressing a wide range of issues including affordable housing, housing land requirements, and design, both in the context of residential development alone and as part of major mixed use schemes.

Commercial Planning

Vincent regularly advises on and appears at inquiries involving major commercial and mixed use developments: examples include promoting a major mixed use redevelopment of Warrington town centre, proposals for the redevelopment of New Brighton, a major mixed use development including a new rugby league stadium for Salford City Reds, proposals for mixed use development centred around a new racecourse in Salford, the largest glass manufacturing plant in Europe in Ince/Elton, major mixed use redevelopment of a town centre site in Beverley close to the Minster, motorway service areas in various locations, oil and gas terminal in Flintshire, Birch Coppice Distribution Centre, industrial development at Wrexham Industrial Estate, major redevelopment in Salford Quays.

Retail

Vincent has extensive experience advising and appearing on retail matters for retailers and local planning authorities. Examples include various Wm Morrison, Tesco, Sainsburys and ASDA superstores, town centre redevelopments in Huddersfield, Warrington, Salford, factory outlet centre (Kendal), and proposals where retail development has been advanced as enabling development.

Renewable Energy

Vincent has extensive experience of renewable energy projects having advised on and successfully promoted a number of wind farm proposals in England, Wales and Scotland, including Tween Bridge (Doncaster), Green Rigg (Tynedale), Wandylaw (Berwick), Nutsgrove (Peterborough), Frodsham Marshes (Cheshire), Llanbrynmair (Powys), Garreg Lwyd (Powys), Mynydd Brombil (Neath Port Talbot), Keirs Hill (East Ayrshire) and Out Newton (Holderness). The proposals have involved detailed consideration of a multiplicity of issues including energy policy, landscape and visual impacts, environmental assessment, impacts upon nature conservation interests (including implications for European law), radar, aviation interests, air defence and military training, cultural heritage, archaeology, underground mining, drainage, and noise.

Compulsory Purchase and Land Compensation Issues

Vincent has substantial experience advising on compulsory purchase orders and appearing at inquiries into orders; examples include successfully promoting Meden Valley compulsory purchase orders on behalf of English Partnerships which considered issues of regeneration and housing; successfully resisting orders for acquisition of Huncoat Power Station which involved considerations of compulsory purchase order powers and procedures and waste disposal needs and strategy in Lancashire; successfully promoting Trinity Gateway bus station in Bolton; successfully promoting the compulsory purchase of Pioneer House in Dewsbury under the Listed Buildings Act to preserve the listed building; various highway and housing compulsory purchase orders.

Vincent regularly advises upon land compensation issues and appears at Lands Tribunal and arbitration hearings with respect to such issues. Examples include compensation following town centre redevelopments in Liverpool and Newcastle, compensation following acquisition for new roads, and compensation following redevelopment of residential areas. He has advised on and appeared in cases assessing compensation for provisions of utilities and compensation under the Land Compensation Act 1973 consequent on the provision of public works.

Development plan examinations

Vincent advises on and has appeared at numerous development plan examinations both for local planning authorities and objectors, including Salford Core Strategy, Bury Core Strategy, Ryedale Plan, Harrogate Sites and Policies DPD.

Airports

Vincent appeared at the Manchester Airport Second Runway inquiry. He has advised on and appeared at a number of inquiries addressing issues affecting airports including, impacts upon airport radar and operations, noise related impacts and airport parking.

Infrastructure

Vincent has extensive experience advising on and appearing in inquiries into infrastructure proposals including, energy projects, waste disposal, roads and bridges, motorway service areas and utilities.

Enforcement

Vincent has extensive experience advising upon and appearing in enforcement cases; examples include local authorities' powers and duties following major development in the absence of planning permission and prior environmental impact assessment, and enforcement following unauthorised waste disposal.

Highways, Footpaths & Right of Way

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.

Commons and Village Greens

Vincent has advised on and appeared at inquiries into commons and village greens both successfully promoting and resisting registration; examples include Hogshaw Wood in Buxton. Vincent has also sat as an independent inspector reporting to the registration authority; examples include Hardy Spicer Sports Ground in Sutton Coldfield, Carrington Close in Birchwood, and Cartwright’s Field in Stockton Heath.

Judicial review and Statutory Challenges

Vincent regularly advises on and appears in Administrative Court proceedings. Please see examples in the significant cases section below.