Gary Grant
Teams: Planning (Planning Appeals, Enforcement, Rights Of Way & Highways, Judicial Review , Forward Planning), Common Law (Personal Injury, Inquests), Administrative and Local Government (Judicial Review, Human Rights), Public & Licensed Access (Licensed Access), Mediation & ADR
Year Called: 1985
Inn: Middle Temple
Qualifications: MA (Oxon) Hons
Appointments: Attorney General's Junior,
Counsel to the Crown,
Regional Panel
Memberships: Planning and Environment Bar Association,
Member of Western Circuit,
Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator
Gary specialises in the fields of Town and Country Planning, Local Government, Environmental and Highways Law. Has experience of Judicial Review, Planning Appeals to the High Court, Section 77/8 Planning Inquiries, Definitive Map Modification Inquiries, Planning Enforcement Inquiries and Planning Injunctions.
A wide range of Regional Panel work undertaken includes promoting and opposing schemes involving major highway works on behalf of the Highways Agency, planning inquiry work and dealing with medical and human rights issues in Inquests as well as damages claims involving medical matters and misfeasance in public office.
Has promoted and opposed many residential schemes. Recent instructions include opposing a proposed large mixed use [inc. 1050 houses] urban extension to Truro on behalf of Cornwall Council at Higher Newham Farm (2010), promoting an 83 bedroom residential care home in Swindon (2009) and opposing a controversial application for a gypsy site on previously contaminated land in Oxfordshire (2009). Currently engaged in managing an objection to a major national rail proposal on behalf of a County Authority (2010) and resisting a controversial relocation of the facilities of a leading rugby club to the green belt (2010/11).
Inquiries:
Inquiry experience covers the full range of land uses and a very wide ambit of expert evidence. Gary is experienced in working with large multi-disciplinary teams. Proposals include those involving care and nursing homes, sheltered housing, affordable housing, matters of design, employment land, countryside issues, major transport issues, highway impact, listed buildings, retail issues, economic viability, ambit of conditions and obligations, flooding, nature conservation, landscape, sport and leisure developments, minerals and waste matters and a wide range of environmental issues.
Advisory practice within the above fields, including on matters of pre and post application strategy and in relation to LDF matters. Gary advises on the full range of planning matters including matters of enforcement and certificates of lawfulness.
Has experience of advising local authorities upon various aspects of law relevant to local government bodies including Judicial Review, consideration of powers and duties, human rights and new initiatives. Practice encompasses highways and rights of way issues, environmental law and compulsory purchase.
Recent court based instructions include a successful defence to a Judicial Review of a council’s decision to grant planning permission for a motor sports circuit in terms of noise effects, committee consideration, lawfulness of conditions and reasons [R on the application of Enstone Uplands and District Conservation Trust [2009] EWCA Civ 1555 CA affirming Sir Michael Harrison [2008] EWHC 3275 (Admin)].
Gary has provided training on planning related issues both as an invited speaker and as part of the commitment of the Planning Team to Continuous Professional Development.
Gary has considerable experience in personal injury, fatal accidents, clinical negligence and other related professional negligence with a particular focus on complex medical issues. Has significant experience of Inquests including those engaging Article 2 of ECHR and involving complex medical issues.
Mediation:
Gary was accredited as a Civil and Commercial Mediator having completed the European Training Team's Western Circuit mediator training course held in April 2005 and having passed its externally moderated examination to the Accredited Mediator standard.
Having sat with experienced mediators in mediations to gain experience, Gary has mediated small claims in the Poole County Court dealing with a range of contract, land, sale of goods, tort and property related disputes on a 'pro bono' basis. Gary has continued to undergo annual training in mediation. Gary is a member of the Solent and Wessex Mediation Group and has conducted mediations in Hampshire and Dorset involving property, rights of way, inheritance claims and licensing matters.
VAT Number: 458586395