Ian Ponter

Ian enjoys an extensive national planning and public law practice. He is highly rated, consistently featuring in Planning’s list of top-rated junior barristers. He appears for both developers and local planning authorities at inquiries for housing, employment, retail, energy and waste schemes. He also appears at development plan examinations (both promoting and objecting to draft plans), and at CPO inquiries (as well as proceedings in the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) dealing with compensation issues arising out of compulsory purchase). On top of his busy inquiry practice, he appears in the High Court on judicial reviews, statutory planning challenges, and injunctive proceedings.

Planning Appeals

• Appeared for Story Homes in appeal against refusal of 67 dwellings in Thursby, Allerdale. The appeal was allowed – 2023
• Appeared for Greystoke Land in appeal against refusal of 100 dwellings in Badsey, Wychavon. The appeal was allowed – 2022
• Appeared for Greystoke Land in appeal against refusal of 43 homes in Hook Norton, Cherwell. The appeal was allowed – 2022
• Appeared for the LPA in an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for 255 houses and the restoration of an historic canal, all of which was proposed in the Green Belt – 2022
• Appeared for South Ribble Borough Council in appeal against the refusal of planning permission for over 1,000 houses on an allocated site in Lancashire. Issues included the impact of the proposal on the local highway – 2022.
• Appeared for Solihull Council in appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a residential care home. The case raised a series of heritage issues involving listed buildings, a conservation area, and a non-designated heritage asset – 2022
• Appeared for the Appellant at an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a large residential scheme in a disused quarry in Mansfield. The case raised a large number of complex ecological issues -2022
• Appeared on behalf of the Manchester City Council at an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a tall building (containing purpose built student accommodation) in central Manchester. The appeal gave rise to multiple issues (heritage, visual impact, student need, residential amenity, and wind micro-climate) – 2022
• Acted for Memoria Ltd opposing an appeal for a new crematorium in the open countryside. Our objection was successful and the appeal was dismissed – 2021
• Acted for Bolton Council at an appeal against an enforcement notice requiring demolition of 5 large houses built without planning permission in the Green Belt. The Council was successful and the notice upheld – 2021
• Acted for the Appellant, CB Collier Ltd seeking planning permission for more than 300 houses on a contaminated, brownfield site in Newark and Sherwood The appeal was successful – 2021
• Acted the Appellant, Greystoke Land, seeking planning permission for a residential development on the edge of a rural village, Alderton,in the Cotswolds. The appeal succeeded and planning permission was granted – 2021
• Acted for Chorley Council at an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for 2 significant housing schemes – 2021

Development Plans

• representing significant landowners promoting major residential and employment development in Cheshire
• representing a significant landowner promoting a major strategic urban extension in North Northamptonshire.

Notable Planning cases

successfully quashing an Inspector’s decision granting planning permission in section 288 proceedings on behalf of Manchester City

successfully resisting judicial review of a decision by Birmingham City Council to grant planning permission for significant residential