Jonathan is a Partner and Planning and Infrastructure Team Leader.
Jonathan specialises in the delivery of infrastructure projects and advises clients on development consent orders, compulsory purchase orders and land compensation, regeneration, planning applications, appeals, section 106 planning agreements, highway agreements and enforcement including advocacy. He is also experienced in managing cross department teams on projects as well as managing multi-disciplinary teams of other professionals on projects to deliver work streams on time and within the agreed scope.
He manages client relationships through the development and implementation stages across the public and private sector, and is adept at understanding the challenges faced by clients in the public sector around governance and risk profiling. Jonathan is a key member of our Crown Commercial Service client team and advises clients across Central and Local Government.
His experience with major infrastructure projects includes advising on energy schemes including offshore wind farms and underground gas storage projects consented pre Planning Act 2008, the promotion of gas and electricity power projects and transport schemes. Jonathan is currently advising both promoters and objectors on Development Consent Orders and has significant experience acting for clients on town centre and highways schemes. Jonathan also acts on claims for compulsory purchase compensation settlements including Lands Tribunal references together with the property law implications arising from the orders. His work on HS2 acting for numerous petitioners has included appearing as an advocate before the Select Committees.
Jonathan hosts external seminars lecturing on both planning and compulsory purchase law, including a lecture for Central Law Training and regularly for CPT Events. He is a member of the Compulsory Purchase Association as well as being a former Council member of the National Infrastructure Planning Association. He is currently chair of the Redcliffe and Temple Business Improvement District Management Board in Bristol.
Jonathan is the firm's partner lead for net zero and sets the strategy and direction for our target to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. He is also a member of the Ethical Thinking Group and is a trustee of the firm's CIO.
Experience
Examples of experience include advising:
- West Berkshire District Council, Parkway, Newbury Redevelopment which involved a CPO and land assembly for town centre retail led mixed use scheme as well as the post possession compensation claims
- Three Rivers District Council on the South Oxhey redevelopment with advice covering statutory process – CPO, appropriation and planning as well as the development agreement
- Countryside Properties PLC on a number of schemes partnering with local authorities on the statutory powers required
- Reading Borough Council on a number of CPOs and highway matters including a new River Thames crossing and Reading station
- Claimants and compensating authorities on Lands Tribunal claims arising from land subject to CPO
- The promoters of a number of Development Consent Orders including East Anglia ONE; East Anglia THREE (both ScottishPower Renewables), Knottingley CCGT Power Plant (ESB) and Thanet (Vattenfall) dealing with the drafting of the Orders, appearance as advocate in hearings, negotiation of agreements with Interested Parties and all compulsory acquisition issues
- On Rail Central, a proposed new strategic rail freight interchange where a Property Bond has been proposed (substantially in advance of any future statutory obligations arising) in order to provide reassurance to home owners concerned about property values
- Petitioners on HS2 along the whole route including submission of petitions to both houses of Parliament and appearance as advocate in select committee as well as negotiation of settlement agreements.
"He always fights hard to make sure his clients get the right results."
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2017
