We have a national reputation as the “go to” form for judicial review work which has seen our lawyers involved in some of the most significant actions of recent years. We regularly act for local authorities in respect of judicial reviews and statutory appeals to the High Court as well as individuals challenging decisions of local authorities. The subject matter of such judicial reviews is varied and includes planning, education, child care and transport.
We have also acted for corporate bodies, non-governmental and non-profit-making organisations or associations with interests in local planning issues and decisions.
The team regularly bring statutory appeals seeking to quash decisions made by inspectors at planning appeals. Such work also involves challenges in respect of cost decisions. We routinely advise in respect of local plans.
We guide claimants and defendants through the whole judicial review process, including:
• The drafting of and response to pre-action protocol letters
• Advising on the merits of the case
• Advising on costs, including advising on protective costs orders in environmental cases
• Preparing and lodging the response to the application
• Preparing for and appearing at the hearing itself
• Advising on appeals
Case highlights
- Acting for Test Valley in issuing a challenge to quash a decision granting material change of use of land from agricultural to storage and distribution.
- Acting for Wycombe District Council in two separate challenges against Wycombe District Council’s Local Plan.
- Successfully acted for the National Trust to challenge decisions made by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
- Acting for Elmbridge Borough Council in defending a JR of the quashing of a decision to grant planning permission for a sports hub.
- Acting for Mid Sussex District Council in defending High Court Judicial Review proceedings involving a grant of planning permission for housing, involving four High Court Challenges and an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
What others say
Judicial review
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The High Court provides guidance on what constitutes a “concession contract”; Ocean Outdoor UK Limited v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham [2018] EWHC 2508 (TCC)
Sharpe Pritchard acted on behalf of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in the recent case of Ocean Outdoor UK Limited v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham [2018] Read more
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Court of Appeal confirms that Local Government Act 1972 provides local authorities with power to authorise music festivals in parks held on trust for the public
Author: Nicola Tilche / Brian Hurwitz Factual background In April 2016 the Friends of Finsbury Park (“the Friends”) commenced judicial review proceedings against the decision of Haringey London Borough Council (the Read more
Sharpe Pritchard latest news and blog
Judicial review
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Respect is due! Upper Tribunal considers the weight to be given to local authority financial penalty decisions
This week, a significant Upper Tribunal decision was handed down by Judge Elizabeth Cooke in Waltham Forest LBC v (1) Marshall (2) Ustek [2020] UKUT 0035 (LC). The cases of Marshall and Ustek began as Read more
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Brexit, memes and the future of UK copyright law
After years of political wrangling, last week the UK officially left the European Union. Although headlines were naturally engulfed with Brexit news of woe or celebration, an interesting development regarding Read more
