Dr Lois Lane specialises in planning, environmental, housing and public law, with a particular focus on strategic environmental litigation and major infrastructure development. She is ranked as a Rising Star in planning in the Legal 500 directory, one of the top-rated planning juniors under 35 in the 2026 Planning Law Survey, and is shortlisted for Planning and Land Use Junior of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2026. Lois is a member of the Attorney General’s ‘C’ Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown and of the cross-disciplinary Cornerstone Climate team.
Since joining Chambers, she has appeared in the Court of Appeal, the High Court (led and unled), and public inquiries and examinations for major infrastructure projects, residential and commercial developments. Her clients include local authorities, regulators, NGOs and think tanks, community groups, individuals, and private companies. Lois is qualified to accept instructions on a Public Access basis directly from members of the public.
Before coming to the Bar, Lois obtained a PhD in medieval history from King’s College London and worked as a housing and planning policy officer at CPRE, the Countryside Charity, and at the National Housing Federation.
Expertise
- Planning, Environment and Climate
Lois has a busy planning and environmental practice, with a particular interest in claimant environmental work.
Her planning and environmental judicial review experience includes the following:
- Led by Estelle Dehon KC (together with Ruchi Parekh and Odette Chalaby), representing the Claimant in R (Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions) v Secretary of State for Transport [2026] EWHC 1556 (Admin), a four-day rolled up judicial review of the decision of the Secretary of State to grant permission for Gatwick Airport’s Northern Runway Project.
- With Estelle Dehon KC, representing the Claimant in SOS Biscathorpe v Secretary of State for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities and Egdon Resources Ltd AC-2023-LON-003737, a successful statutory review of the decision of an Inspector to grant permission for an oil drilling project in the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape.
- With Nina Pindham, representing the Claimant in Malcolm Hull v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government AC-2025-LON-002740, a successful statutory review of the decision of an Inspector to allow an enforcement appeal in relation to a Grey Belt site which was formerly the Butterfly World tourist attraction in St Albans, and acting unled in relation to the redetermination by the Planning Inspectorate.
- Representing the Claimant (unled) in R (Chigwell Parish Council) v Epping Forest District Council [2026] EWHC 901 (Admin), a judicial review of the decision of the local planning authority to grant permission for a retirement village.
- Assisting with research and drafting on portions of the written case for the Appellant in the hearing of R (Finch) v Surrey County Council [2024] UKSC 20in the Supreme Court and with drafting a skeleton argument for the hearing of a challenge to a new coal mining operation in the Court of Appeal.
Lois’ recent and current instructions in planning proceedings includes:
- With Estelle Dehon KC, representing a Rule 6 party in a three-week inquiry into the proposed expansion of London City Airport, including cross-examination of expert witnesses and delivering closing submissions.
- With Michael Bedford KC, representing the Joint Local Authorities in the examination of Gatwick Airport Ltd’s application for development consent for its Northern Runway Project and Suffolk County Council in the examination of National Grid Energy Transmission’s Sea Link Project.
- With Robert Williams, representing two local planning authorities in an inquiry into an application for a 660-home cross-boundary scheme in Ipswich.
- With Josef Cannon KC, representing the local planning authorities in a six-day call-in inquiry into an application for the redevelopment of a commercial site in Cambridge, and section 78 appeals concerning Watford FC’s application for a permanent training facility in the Green Belt and a 55-unit affordable housing scheme in the Green Wedge.
- Representing the local planning authority (unled) in an eight-day non-determination inquiry into a 140-home scheme, involving flooding and highways impacts.
- Representing the Appellant (unled) in an enforcement inquiry concerning the remodelling of a popular Motocross track in the Malvern Hills.
- Representing a number of local planning authorities (unled) in inquiries under section 195 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 concerning refusals of certificates of lawful use or development.
Lois advises clients across a range of planning and environmental matters, including pro bono advice through the Environmental Law Foundation. She has particular expertise in relation to climate change legislation, Environmental Impact Assessment and issues under the Habitats Regulations. She also has experience of prosecuting offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on behalf of local authorities.
Lois is the co-author of “UK-EU Relations Law and Environmental Law” (Chapter 16A) in Garner’s Environmental Law (issues 138 and 139, 2024). She regularly speaks at conferences and seminar and has experience of appearing in local and national media including two appearances on BBC Radio 4 to discuss the future of applications for offshore oil production in the North Sea. Lois has provided caselaw updates at the National Infrastructure Planning Association annual conference in July 2025, the Waterfront Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Forum in February 2026 and UKELA Conference in June 2026.
- Judicial Review & Public Law
Lois represents claimants and defendants in judicial review proceedings across a range of public law issues. She is a member of the Attorney General’s ‘C’ Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown.
Recent and current instructions include:
- Led by Estelle Dehon KC (together with Ruchi Parekh and Odette Chalaby), representing the Claimant in R (Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions) v Secretary of State for Transport [2026] EWHC 1556 (Admin), a four-day rolled up judicial review of the decision of the Secretary of State to grant permission for Gatwick Airport’s Northern Runway Project.
- With Estelle Dehon KC, representing the Claimant in SOS Biscathorpe v Secretary of State for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities and Egdon Resources Ltd AC-2023-LON-003737, a successful statutory review of the decision of an Inspector to grant permission for an oil drilling project in the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape.
- With Philip Coppel KC, representing the Claimant in R (Theberton and Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell Limited) v Office for Nuclear Regulation AC-2024-LON-002646, a judicial review of the decision of the regulator to grant a nuclear site licence for the Sizewell C reactor site.
- Representing the Claimant (unled) in a successful judicial review of the decision of a local housing authority on additional medical priority under its housing allocations policy.
- With Riccardo Calzavara, representing the Defendant authority in R (Ivory) v Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council [2025] EWCA Civ 21, a judicial review heard in the Court of Appeal concerning the treatment of ‘new facts’ in repeat homelessness applications.
- Housing and Property
Lois has a busy county court housing practice, regularly appearing in possession proceedings, section 204 homelessness appeals, and housing-related anti-social behaviour proceedings under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. She accepts instructions from landlords and tenants, including legal aid funded instructions.
She also has experience of:
- Drafting statements of case in possession claims involving issues under the Equality Act 2010.
- Drafting skeleton arguments in section 204 homelessness appeals on decisions around intentionality, suitability, and priority need.
- Advising a registered provider of social housing seeking to deliver a programme of energy-efficiency improvement works to general needs tenants and leaseholders.
- Advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants over land and the scope of the resident landlord exemptions to the Right of First Refusal procedure under part 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.
Lois worked in the housing sector before undertaking her Graduate Diploma in Law, as a policy officer for the National Housing Federation. She worked especially closely with housing associations specialising in supported housing and extra care accommodation. She also has experience of working with rough sleepers and liaising with local authorities and other support services as a case support volunteer for St Mungo’s No Second Night Out project.
- Local Government
Lois accepts instructions across the full range of Cornerstone’s local government work. In addition to housing and property-related local government instructions, she has advised local authorities on:
- Merits and quantum in relation to a potential claim for damages under Part 3 of the Equality Act 2010.
- Merits and quantum in relation to a potential claim for damages in respect of an inadvertent data breach.
- The proper interpretation of section 215 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the maintenance of disused cemeteries.
She has also represented local authorities in licensing proceedings including taxi licensing appeals and HMO licensing prosecutions in the magistrates court.
About Lois
- Awards
- Kingsland Cup and Prize Moot (Francis Taylor Building) – Winning Team (2021)
- Exhibition Scholarship – The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (2021)
- Major Scholarship (GDL) – The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (2020)
- City Law School Scholarships – City, University of London (2020 & 2021)
- Arts and Humanities Research Council – PhD Studentship (2015)
- Alumni Association Prize for best thesis mark of MA Cohort – University College London (2014)
- Provost’s Scholarship – University College London (2013)
- Angus Macintyre Prize in History – Magdalen College, Oxford (2012)
- Memberships
- Planning and Environment Bar Association
- UK Environmental Law Association
- Administrative Law Bar Association
- Education
- BVS (Merit) – City, University of London (2021–22)
- GDL (Distinction) – City, University of London (2020–21)
- PhD History – King’s College London (2015–2018)
- M.A. Medieval and Renaissance Studies (Distinction) – University College London (2013–2014)
- B.A. (Hons) History (First Class) – Magdalen College, Oxford (2010–13)
- Publications
- Notable cases
- Events
- Suitability of Part 7 offers of accommodation: A panel discussion (In Person Only)26 Nov 2025
- Opportunity Green x Cornerstone Climate: ICJAO Outcomes and Implications (Part of Cornerstone Climate Month)15 Sep 2025
- Climate Litigation in the UK – Part of Cornerstone Climate Month03 Sep 2025
- Cornerstone Climate / Grantham Research Institute: Lliuya v RWE and the shifting landscape of climate law 10 Jul 2025
- Solar Developments in the Green Belt17 Mar 2025
- Planning Day 2025: The Growth Agenda17 Nov 2025
