Five Minutes with Bernadette Hillman

Bernadette Hillman is a partner in our Planning team. She joined Sharpe Pritchard in June 2020.

We spent five minutes with Bernadette to learn more about her and the work she does.

 

Tell us about your role at Sharpe Pritchard

I am the head of the Planning team and specialise in non-contentious and contentious planning issues in relation to high profile nationally and locally important major mixed-use schemes, working for Local Authorities, Charities, Public Bodies, Landowners and Developers.

What does a typical day look like for you?

There is no such thing as a typical day, which I why I still love my job after nearly 40 years.

What is the most interesting project or matter you’ve worked on recently?

Advising Countryside Properties on all planning law aspects of the Bourn Airfield project, comprising 3,500 homes and associated development.  The project secured outline planning permission in 2024.

What do clients most commonly come to you for advice on?

My work is wide ranging, from advising on planning schemes and agreements to judicial reviews of planning and public body decisions, planning enforcement and appeals.  I enjoy the challenge of resolving a complex planning issue.

What developments or trends are you currently keeping an eye on?

The proposed changes to Affordable Housing policy and the proliferation of public sector led development.

What’s one misconception people have about your area of law?

That the shortage of housing is caused by the planning system. It’s far more complex than that.

What do you enjoy most about working at Sharpe Pritchard?

Without doubt the people and the diverse and interesting projects that we are all involved with.

What piece of advice would you give to someone starting out in your profession?

Good communication and focus is key. Know your audience, stay locked in, and be conscious of how your message will land.

If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what would you have done?

I’d have liked to have been a children’s storyteller.

What’s something your colleagues might be surprised to learn about you?

I enjoy a cycle challenge in exotic places: Over the last 10 years I have cycled in Cuba, Myanmar, Borneo, Patagonia, Vietnam, Cambodia  and India.

What book, podcast or TV programme would you recommend right now?

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy is a wonderful and beautifully written book, reflecting the mother / daughter relationship as both a shelter and a storm.  I’m also a big fan of the New Yorker Fiction Podcast.

Complete this sentence: “People would be surprised how much of my job involves…”

When my adult daughters were very young I would describe my job to them as “reading, writing and talking on the phone”.  I don’t think this has changed, aside from the fact that we use Teams for calls.