Since the commencement of his practice Robert has advised on and acted in a large number of planning matters, including:
- Acting, with Morag Ellis QC, on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council in a seven-week inquiry into the proposed redevelopment of Brighton Marina.
- Appearing, with James Findlay QC, in R (on the application of Garner) v Elmbridge Borough Council [2010] EWCA Civ 1006, the leading case on the grant of Protective Costs Orders in judicial review challenges to planning permissions;
- Appearing for Chichester District Council in a number of multi-day planning inquiries regarding the use of land within the District for a gypsy sites. These inquires raised issues inter alia of gypsy status, Article 8 of the ECHR, and impact on a European Protected Species
- Representing Wycombe District Council in a two-day planning inquiry into proposed residential development within the Green Belt (Green Belt policy; viability of employment use)
- Representing Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council in a two-day planning inquiry into a proposed development of 65 residential units (Visual Amenity and Landscape; Highway Safety)
- Representing Wycombe District Council in a three-day planning inquiry into a proposed housing development (Visual Amenity and Landscape);
- Representing Brecon Beacons National Park Authority in an appeal relating to a proposed development of 7 house residential scheme in the National Park (Landscape Amenity; Density; Affordable Housing);
- Appearing for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council in a two-day appeal against the LPA’s refusal to approve details relating to a Biomass Power Station (Visual Amenity; Noise)
- Representing Brighton and Hove City Council in a four-day inquiry into a proposed 72 flat, residential scheme (Visual Amenity; Housing Land Supply; Private Amenity Space)
- Appearing for Thanet District Council in a two-day inquiry in relation to an application for a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use
- Acting for the interested party in the Court of Appeal in Leeds Group Plc v (1) Leeds City Council, (2) Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (3) Jones [2011] EWCA Civ 1447, in which the appellants (unsuccessfully) argued that applying the new definition of a town or village green brought in by CROW Act 2000 to use of land prior to enactment would be contrary to the presumption against retrospectivity and breach their Article 1 Protocol 1 rights.
- Acting as part of a team of three barristers from chambers who advised on an application to the Infrastructure Planning Committee in relation to the development of a Nuclear Power Station
- Appearing for a number of local authorities in enforcement appeals.
During his pupillage Robert gained experience of a wide variety of planning matters including section 78 and enforcement appeals, judicial review of planning permissions, challenges to the validity of the plan-making process and section 187B injunctions.
Robert also presented a paper on Town and Village Greens at the seminar Planning and Local Government Issues for Wales in September 2009
