the guide to PLANNING LAWYERS 201314 2 JUNE PLANNING LAWYERS INTRODUCTION Legal brieng rey areas abound in the interpretation The government’s new tax on development pro- of planning legislation and policy. The posals, the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Ggovernment’s ongoing programme of is another growth area for the legal trade. Many planning reform and delays in develop- lawyers are advising clients on how local authority ment plan adoption are among factors creating a CIL charging schedules will affect their schemes. climate of uncertainty in which parties on all sides Others are helping councils ensure their charge see opportunities to press their own interests. rates pass the soundness tests set by ministers. The threat of litigation hovers over almost any These are just some areas where legal expertise major development or infrastructure proposal or is proving essential for parties seeking to realise local authority planning policy. In this climate, their aspirations through the planning system, lawyers have a key role to play in whether they are developers, local authorities or ensuring that schemes and third parties. A clear steer on the best sources of policies are fire-proofed legal advice is vital for anyone trying to nego- Contents against legal challenge. tiate this minefield. The Guide to Planning The government has Lawyers aims to help in two ways. 05 THE PLANNING TEAM taken steps to curtail First, it offers an element of peer re- Solicitors Law firms are Editorial the scope for chal- view via our annual Planning Law T 020 8267 4381 advising on many of the E
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