Mark Lowe QC

Mark Lowe QC  took silk in 1996. He was appointed a Recorder of the Crown Court and an Assistant Boundary Commissioner in 2000 and he was elected a Bencher of Gray’s Inn in 2004. He served as Head of Chambers from 2006 to 2011.

Mark is recognised in the guides to the profession as a leading silk in the fields of planning law, local government and administrative law, and environmental law.

In the current Chambers and Partners (2012) Mark is "similarly highly rated, and popular amongst instructing solicitors when in comes to questions of statutory powers" and "a favourite of solicitors, who value his economical but effective style, both when presenting advice and in leading advocacy".

In the 2011 edition, it is said that he is an "effective advocate who doesn't beat about the bush." His advice is always "timely and well considered." Mark Lowe QC "exudes charm and competence." Displaying a natural flair for high-profile, high-value planning projects, his work over the last year includes a number of tall building matters.

In previous editions Mark Lowe QC is admired for his “well-constructed arguments” and “first-class legal brain.” He is described as one of Cornerstone's most venerated silks. Clients praise him for his “carefully considered approach,” reporting: “He puts the salient points out there clearly and never argues on the trivialities.” It also describes him as a “great all-rounder.” According to clients, his strengths are his client-friendliness, sound paperwork and tenaciousness in court. “He doesn’t mind getting in a fight”. Singled out for especial praise, Mark Lowe QC is widely recognised as "the best silk of the set - he's just excellent."

He is ranked as a leading silk by the Legal 500 (2010) in the areas of Planning, Health Safety and Environment, and Administrative and Public law.

He is ranked as one of the Highest Rated Planning Silks by Planning Magazine.

Recent Projects

• Advising Network Rail on its proposals for the redevelopment of London Bridge Station.
• Advising Warner Bros on the future of the Leavesden Studios.
• Appearing for National Grid in a High Court challenge to the grant of permission on appeal to a new high voltage line in Yorkshire.
• Appearing in two appeals relating to substantial highway proposals: the Barnstaple Western Bypass s.17 certificate inquiry and the Witney Cogges Link Road CPO inquiry.
• Appearing for Linden Homes and Network Rail in a High Court challenge to the Bromley Town Centre Action Plan to quash policies for the redevelopment of Bromley North station.
• Appearing for London Irish RFC in an appeal for a new practice ground in the Green Belt and residential redevelopment of its existing ground in Sunbury.
• Two major housing appeals for Barratt Homes, one involving an urban extension to Salisbury together with a new countryside park and the second an urban extension in the Green Belt in Thurrock together with a new area of Public Open Space.
• Advising Hertfordshire County Council on proposals to relocate a special school in association with the provision of new waste to energy plant.
• Appearing in a High Court challenge to the decision of the Secretary of State to grant planning permission to 3,600 new homes to the West of Stevenage based on the inadequacy of the s.106 agreement.