Expertise

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  Ben is ranked as a leading junior for planning in Legal 500 (2023) and Chambers and Partners (2023) and as one of the top-rated planning juniors  by Planning Magazine (2023).

  He has a busy planning practice acting in respect of a wide range of planning and highways matters including residential, retail, infrastructure schemes, enforcement work and plan making.

  Ben acts for both private clients and public authorities and is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown, regularly representing the UK Government in planning matters. He frequently appears in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

  He is a committee member of the Planning and Environment Bar Association (PEBA).

  Some of his recent work is set out below.

  Court of Appeal

  Successfully acted for the Secretary of State in Gardiner v Hertsmere Borough Council [2022] EWCA Civ 1166. The case concerned a question of statutory interpretation about the exemption from liability to Community Infrastructure Levy (“CIL”) for “self-build” housing development under regulations 54A and 54B of the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 and whether that exemption is available when planning permission is granted retrospectively for such development, under section 73A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Ben was led by Richard Honey KC.

  Successfully acted for Historic England in City & Country Bramshill Limited v SSHCLG [2021] EWCA Civ 320. The case addresses a number of important issues including the correct approach to heritage policies in the NPPF.

  Successfully acted for the Appellant in Lochailort v Mendip District Council [2020] EWCA Civ 1259. The Court of Appeal quashed the Council’s decision to approve a neighbourhood plan policy which designated his client’s land as an area of Local Green Space. Ben was led by Richard Ground KC.

  High Court

  Acting for the Secretary of State in Frack Free Balcombe Residents v SSLUHC in a s.288 appeal against the decision of the Secretary of State to grant planning permission for exploration and appraisal of hydrocarbons at a well site in Balcombe, Haywards Heath.

  Successfully acted for King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Webb v LB Bromley [2023] EWHC 2091. This was a judicial review of the decision of London Borough of Bromley to grant his client planning permission for a new endoscopy unit at Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington. The judicial review concerned an allegation of bias which was rejected by Mr Justice Lane. Ben was led by Richard Ground KC.

  Successfully acted for Community Health Partnership Ltd in Arthur v Barnet [2022] EWHC 2933 (Admin). This was a judicial review of the decision of the London Borough of Barnet to grant his client planning permission for 130 units of accommodation for NHS workers on a site adjacent to Finchley Memorial Hospital. Ben was led by Richard Ground KC.

  Successfully acted for the Secretary of State in Heronslea (Bushey 4) Ltd v SSHCLG [2022] EWHC 96 (Admin). The case concerned a question of statutory construction of the CIL Regs and the consequences of a failure to submit a commencement notice for the entitlement to social housing relief. Ben was led by Richard Honey KC.

  Appeared for the Claimant in R (Stratton) v Enfield BC [2022] EWHC 404 (Admin). A local authority had granted planning permission on the basis of a mistake of fact.  The case concerned the court’s exercise of discretion where a claim has become academic. The Claimant was successful in obtaining its costs.

  Appeared for the Secretary of State in Stratford on Avon DC v SSLUHC [2022] EWHC 445 (Admin). The case concerned the correct interpretation of policies in the LPA’s development plan.

  Appeared for Lochailort Investment Ltd resisting a s.113 challenge to the adoption of Mendip District Council’s Part II Plan in Norton St Philip v Mendip District Council [2022] EWHC 3432. The plan had allocated his client’s site for housing development. Ben was led by James Findlay KC. They also appeared in a related case [2023] EWHC 1776 (Admin).

  Acted on behalf of Test Valley Borough Council to obtain an injunction pursuant to s.187B of the TCPA 1990 to secure the demolition of a dwelling which was erected without planning permission.

  Provided written submissions on behalf of the Secretary of State in the case of Stonewater (2) Limited v Wealden District Council [2021] EWHC 2750. The submissions concerned a question of statutory construction of the CIL Regs related to claims for social housing relief. The court and other parties agreed with that construction.

  Provided written submissions on behalf of the Secretary of State in the case of Gardiner v Hertsmere BC [2021] EWHC 1875. The case concerned a question of statutory interpretation about the exemption from liability to Community Infrastructure Levy (“CIL”) for “self-build” housing development under the CIL Regs. The judgment has since been upheld in the Court of Appeal.

  Successfully acted for Historic England in City and Council Bramshill Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2019] EWHC 3437 (Admin). Ben was led by Richard Ground KC. The case addresses a number of important issues including the correct approach to heritage policies in the NPPF.

  Acted for Lochailort in R. (on the application of Lochailort Investments Ltd) v Mendip DC [2019] EWHC 2633 (QB). He was led by Richard Ground KC. They successfully obtained interim relief to prevent a local planning authority from holding a referendum on a draft neighbourhood plan whilst Lochailort pursued a challenge to the draft policies concerning local green space.

  Successfully acted for the Waterways Ombudsman in an application to strike out a judicial review on the basis of a failure to file and serve the claim in time.

  Regularly appears on behalf of the Secretary of State in s.288 and s.289 permission hearings.

  S.78 Inquiries

  Acted for South Cambridge District Council in a s.78 appeal concerning their refusal of planning permission for a large urban regeneration project at Cambridge North Station (APP/w0530/w/23/3315611). The proposed development included 5 commercial buildings for office, research and laboratory uses, a multi-storey car park and up to 425 residential units. The main issues included the design, landscape and heritage impacts of the scheme. The appeal has been called in by the Secretary of State for determination. Ben led Jack Barber.

  Successfully acted for Shenley Parish Council at an inquiry resisting a s.78 appeal in respect of the development of up to 37 dwellings on greenbelt land (APP/N1920/W/22/3311193).

  Acted for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in a s.78 appeal concerning their refusal of planning permission for a 45MW solar farm (APP/H1705/W/22/3304561). The main issues included the landscape and heritage impacts of the scheme.

  Successfully acted for Halstead Parish Council at an inquiry resisting a s.78 appeal in respect of the development of up to 800 dwellings, a primary school and sport facilities on greenbelt land (APP/G2245/W/21/3273188).

  Successfully acted for Manor Oak Homes in a s.78 appeal obtaining a grant of planning permission for the erection of up to 150 dwellings on a greenfield site adjacent to an AONB (APP/Q3115/W/21/3272377). Ben was led by Richard Ground KC.

  Successfully acted for the Roseacre Awareness Group at the public inquiry into proposed shale gas exploration works at Roseacre Wood. The fracking site was promoted by Cuadrilla. RAG successfully opposed the scheme on the basis of highways safety and suitability objections (APP/Q2371/W/15/3134385).

  Successfully acted for Bristol City Council at an inquiry into the proposed expansion of Cribbs Causeway outside of Bristol. Ben was led by Richard Ground KC. The scheme proposed 80,000 sq m of new town centre space. Bristol City Council opposed the scheme on the basis of its retail impacts on the city centre, the availability of a sequentially preferable site and the highways impacts of the scheme (APP/P0119/V/17/3170627).

  Enforcement Inquiries

  Successfully acted for South Oxfordshire District Council in a s.174 appeal whereby the Inspector upheld an enforcement notice requiring the removal of a caravan and associated works from a site and the restoration of the land (APP/Q3115/C/21/3289658).

  Successfully acted for North Norfolk District Council in a s.174 appeal whereby an Inspector upheld an enforcement notice requiring the cessation of a residential use of a building (APP/Y2620/C/19/3241718).

  Successfully acted for an appellant in a s.174 appeal against an enforcement notice requiring demolition by obtaining planning permission under ground (a) for a dwelling in the green belt which was built without planning permission (APP/N1025/C/19/3238932).

  Successfully acted for a client in an appeal under s.195 of the TCPA 1990 to obtain a certificate of lawful use in respect of the use of a two storey side extension as an independent residential dwelling (APP/T0355/X/21/3269997).

  Successfully acted for a client in an appeal under s.195 of the TCPA to obtain a certificate of lawful use in respect of the use of a caravan ancillary to a host dwelling (APP/X0360/X/21/3271863).

  Successful acted for the developer in an inquiry concerning a residential development on Kingsland High Street in Hackney. Ben succeeded in obtaining a certificate of lawfulness for his client’s development and the enforcement notice which had been issued by the Council was quashed (APP/U5360/C/19/3241981).

  Advisory Work

  • Strategic advice to a local planning authority on the progression and adoption of their Local Plan.
  • Advice to central government on a number of legislative changes to the planning regime concerning the use class order and GPDO
  • Advice to a local planning authority on a definitive map modification order concerning over 100 rights of way. Led by Michael Bedford KC.
  • Advice to Historic England in respect of the proposed Holocaust Memorial at Victoria Tower Gardens in Westminster and in respect of the redevelopment of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.

  • Tom Cosgrove KC and Ben Du Feu represent Secretary of State in High Court AONB hydrocarbon case20 Jul 2023
  • Richard Ground QC and Ben Du Feu appeared successfully to secure up to 150 houses for Manor Oak Homes at Inquiry28 Sep 2021
  • Bramshill: the NPPF, isolated homes in the countryside, and the assessment of harms and benefits to heritage assets11 Mar 2021
  • Court of Appeal granted permission to challenge Neighbourhood Plan on all grounds30 Jun 2020
  • Planning Judicial Review via Skype25 Mar 2020
  • Secretary of State dismisses Cuadrilla fracking proposals at Roseacre Wood over highways safety concerns13 Feb 2019
  • The importance of good design: climate change and conservation areas14 Jan 2019
  • Interpretation of housing strategy and land supply policy in national and development plan policy upheld02 Jan 2019
  • Secretary of State confirms that town centres are the first port of call for main town centre uses03 Oct 2018
  • Major infrastructure and proportionality of contributions, the role of indemnities and delays in the appeal process09 Aug 2018
  • Chinnor Conjoined Planning Inquiry01 Jun 2018

  • Cornerstone Barristers achieves record results in Chambers UK Bar Directory 2024 for Planning and Environment24 Oct 2023
  • Cornerstone Barristers ranked as a leading set by Chambers & Partners 202419 Oct 2023
  • Cornerstone Planning Team recommended as a leading set for planning in The Legal 500 2024 guide05 Oct 2023
  • Planning Law Survey 2023: Seven members of chambers highly rated by Planning Magazine16 Jun 2023
  • Court of Appeal upholds CIL self build exemption ruling19 Aug 2022
  • Tom Cosgrove QC, Ashley Bowes and Ben du Feu have been elected or co-opted onto the Planning & Environment Bar Association (PEBA) committee19 Jul 2022
  • Cornerstone Planning Day 2021 – Tickets available20 Sep 2021
  • NEW BRIEFING – Local authorities post COVID-19. All you need to know01 Jul 2020
  • Planning Law Survey 2020 – Barristers at Cornerstone among the “most-admired”30 Mar 2020
  • Interpreting planning policy: a judicial plea for simplicity and an end to excessive legalism that is likely to fall on deaf ears’: J.P.L. 2019, 5, 444-455.26 Apr 2019
  • Leisure Sector News Round-up21 May 2018
  • Response to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’s inquiry on fracking24 Apr 2018
• Public Law and Judicial Review
  • Overview
  • Cases
  • News

  Ben acts for and has advised a wide range of clients in matters concerning judicial reviews and statutory challenges.

  • Tom Cosgrove KC and Ben Du Feu represent Secretary of State in High Court AONB hydrocarbon case20 Jul 2023

  • Emma Dring and Ruchi Parekh appointed to the Attorney General’s B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown, with Rowan Clapp appointed to C Panel02 Aug 2023
  • NEW BRIEFING – Local authorities post COVID-19. All you need to know01 Jul 2020
  • Ben Du Feu appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel19 Jul 2019