"...cuts through masses of complex material to the core issues and his advocacy is brilliant"

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2021]
Giles Atkinson
Call: 2002
Direct access

Giles is an experienced planning specialist with a broad practice encompassing all aspect of planning work which includes advisory work,  inquiries and hearings, criminal defence and prosecution, injunctions and judicial review and with a particular expertise in enforcement matters.

 

Planning

Giles’s practice now covers every aspect of advocacy and advisory work concerned with planning, development management, policy and particularly enforcement work, on behalf of local authorities, developers and private individuals.

Giles has a huge experience of planning inquiry work from large housing schemes in the South East to the smaller scale, particularly enforcement cases, including those affecting listed buildings and advertising control matters. Giles is increasingly instructed in estate regeneration CPO work and has a growing High Court practice.

Giles is also increasingly appears and is instructed in judicial review matters, principally defending local authorities’ decision making in the High Court. Also in the High Court, Giles has much experience of obtaining planning injunctions under section 187B TCPA.

Giles’s practice on the enforcement side regularly takes him to the criminal courts prosecuting and defending planning offences and has much recent experience advising and representing both prosecuting authorities and defendants in litigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 following conviction under section 179 TCPA.

Before coming to the bar Giles spent 10 years as a planner in the public and private sectors.

Recent Planning Work

  • Worsley Bridge Road planning Inquiry, decision 11th August 2023.  Giles represented the Council in successfully resisting an appeal against refusal of permission for 100 residential units on a disused sports pitch within the Bromley MOL.  PINS ref: 3315293
  • R (on the application of Ibrar) v Dacorum BC [2023] JPL 668 Represented the Council in a case finding that unless there were exceptional circumstances, an appeal to the High Court under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 s.289 against a planning inspector’s decision to refuse an appeal against an enforcement notice would be an adequate alternative remedy and it would not be appropriate to grant judicial review to parties who could have appealed under s.289. Extensions of time to proceed with s.289 were refused in respect of two recipients of enforcement notices.
  • R (on the application of Neophytou) v Enfield LBC [2022] JPL 1157 For the LB Enfield.  When challenging a local planning authority’s decision not to issue an enforcement notice, the question was not whether there had been a breach of planning control: it was whether there was a reviewable error in the decision not to enforce against any breaches that had occurred. In the instant case, the local authority was entitled to conclude that works done to the rear of a residential property did not impact on the neighbours’ amenity and that an enforcement notice would not be expedient.
  • Inquiry: Billingsbourne Barn, Millers Lane, Chigwell (PINS Ref: APP/J1535/X/18/3206694). A complex enforcement case involving appeals under sections 174 and 195, PD under Class Q agricultural building to dwellinghouse and the Green Belt.
  • Land at Featherbed Lane. A combined EN section 78 appeal by travellers in the Green Belt. [PINS Ref: APP/A1910/C/19/3237920 and APP/A1910/W/19/3237919].
  • Salts Farm, Fawkham Road. Outline permission for 26 dwellings in the Green Belt. [PINS Ref: APP/G2245/W/20/3260956].
  • Giles recently represented the LPA at Inquiry in a particularly factually and legally complex enforcement appeal against a notice alleging non compliance with conditions imposed by Part 6 of the 2015 GPDO, agricultural PD, including condition A.2(5) which appears not to have been the subject of appeal before. [PINS ref: APP/G5180/C/20/3246812].
  • Giles represented the Crown (LB Lambeth) in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) which found that the Crown Court had been entitled to vary upwards a confiscation order arising from a prosecution for non-compliance with a planning enforcement notice after the High Court, in a claim by the defendant against his solicitors alleging their conveyancing error had led to his conviction and the subsequent confiscation order, had made an order indemnifying him against any increases in the order upon the Council’s application under section 22 POCA. The indemnity represented an ‘available amount’ for the purposes of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. R v Robinson (Oreain Malcolm) [2019] 11 WLUK 611
  • Giles successfully represented a London Borough in an inquiry into an enforcement notice making three separate allegations, appealed against initially on 5 grounds, concerning the creeping development of a complex inner London site by a hotel in a residential area. Decision: June 2019. [PINS Ref: APP/N5660/C/18/3194753].
  • Represented the Lea Valley Growers’ Association trade body at the recently concluded (June 2019) Examination of the Epping Forest District Local Plan.
  • Giles successfully defended at inquiry a Council’s refusal of permission for a large gypsy and traveller site in the Green Belt. With 4 mobiles, 4 tourers and 4 day rooms proposed the appellants’ scheme was a sizeable development. Represented by Alan Masters, the appellants’ gypsy status was in issue at inquiry. [PINS Ref: APP/G2245/W/17/3170535].
  • Successfully argued in making an application under section 22 POCA 2002 (reconsideration of available amount) on behalf of the prosecuting local authority that an indemnity against the making of the order under section 22, awarded to the defendant by the High Court in parallel civil litigation, was property which had the full value of that indemnity (£188,000) so that it could be included in the new calculation required under section 22. The court found that the indemnity had value for the purposes of section 22 notwithstanding that the ‘trigger event’ for the indemnity was the making of the order itself under section 22 by the court.
    The case arose from unlawful conversion of a property to flats, contrary to section 179 TCPA 1990 and the defendant had been required to pay £100,000 by way of confiscation order, following his conviction, that sum representing the available amount in the shape of his equity in another property. The indemnity the defendant won in the civil courts arose from his successful claim against the insurers for his conveyancing solicitors (since gone out of business) who had failed to advise him of the planning status of the property he had gone on to convert upon its purchase by him.
  • Successful in securing the upholding of 2 ENs at inquiry alleging no less than 6 material changes of use and 4 separate instances of operational development, together with 16 requirements, in respect of a particularly complex and long-standing ‘problem’ site in the Kent AONB. PINS refs: APP/J2210/C/16/3165735 and 3165873.
  • Successfully represented Lewes DC at planning inquiry resisting a proposal for housing outside of settlement boundaries, in the countryside. The Inspector’s decision confirmed that the relevant saved local plan policy is still up-to-date and that the LPA can demonstrate a 5 year HLS. Interesting points raised too about the impact of the proposals on the Ashdown Forest SAC. [PINS Ref: APP/P1425/W/17/3180632]
  • Successful defence of the issue of an enforcement notice alleging unlawful conversion of an office building into 14 self contained flats in south London. Appeal brought on ground (d). [PINS Ref: APP/N5660/C/16/3159452]
  • Represented the Council in a high profile Inquiry into the refusal to grant permission for the change of use and refurbishment of the listed former Hackney Police station into a 630 pupil Muslim faith school. Decision recovered by the SoS. Main issues were the effect on the historic environment and on the highway network, including pedestrians, cyclists and transport. [PINS refs: APP/U5360/W/16/3164952 and APP/U5360/Y/16/3164946]

Recommendations

"...cuts through masses of complex material to the core issues and his advocacy is brilliant"

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2021]

"Speedy and effective communicator. Comprehensive knowledge of his subject. Quiet but reassuring manner with clients. Thorough and meticulous written work."

― Legal 500 [2021]

"He provides clear, helpful and concise advice and gets straight to the key points and explaining complex points in an understandable way."

"He is methodical and very thorough."

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2020]

"He was highly intelligent and analytical. He was well prepared, incisive and able to see the wood for the trees in a case which was procedurally complex."

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2019]

"A well-prepared junior with a fast and analytic approach. Able to handle complex nuances."

― Legal 500 [2019]

"He is not fazed by the opposition and provides a superb service."

― Legal 500 [2017]

Notable Cases

Recent notable cases include:

  • Giles was successful in resisting an appeal against non-determination of application for 150 houses and a 50-bed Care Home in the Metropolitan Green Belt, the site being a proposed allocation in the Council’s now withdrawn Local Plan.  PINS ref: 3326612
  • Worsley Bridge Road planning Inquiry, decision 11th August 2023.  Giles represented the Council in successfully resisting an appeal against refusal of permission for 100 residential units on a disused sports pitch within the Bromley MOL.  PINS ref: 3315293
  • R (on the application of Ibrar) v Dacorum BC [2023] JPL 668 Represented the Council in a case finding that unless there were exceptional circumstances, an appeal to the High Court under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 s.289 against a planning inspector’s decision to refuse an appeal against an enforcement notice would be an adequate alternative remedy and it would not be appropriate to grant judicial review to parties who could have appealed under s.289. Extensions of time to proceed with s.289 were refused in respect of two recipients of enforcement notices.
  • R (on the application of Neophytou) v Enfield LBC [2022] JPL 1157 For the LB Enfield.  When challenging a local planning authority’s decision not to issue an enforcement notice, the question was not whether there had been a breach of planning control: it was whether there was a reviewable error in the decision not to enforce against any breaches that had occurred. In the instant case, the local authority was entitled to conclude that works done to the rear of a residential property did not impact on the neighbours’ amenity and that an enforcement notice would not be expedient.
  • R (Patricia Shave) v Maidstone Borough Council v Mr and Mrs P Body [2020] EWHC 1895 (Admin)
  • R v Robinson (Oreain Malcolm) [2019] 11 WLUK 611
  • Michael Lyndon-Stanford QC v Mid Suffolk District Council [2016] EWHC 3284
  • Galliard Hotels Ltd v Lambeth LBC [2010] EWHC 1773 Admin. Concerned the true nature of a planning obligation entered into for the provision of coach and taxi drop off facilities for a hotel and whether its terms prevented the development from going ahead.
  • Mohammed Aurooj Azam v Epping Forest District Council [2009] EWHC 3177 Admin. Concerned the approach to certificates issued by a prosecutor as to the date on which evidence sufficient to justify prosecution, in his opinion, came to his knowledge.

Publications

Co-Author of Wildy Practice Guide, ‘Planning Law and Practice’, published in March 2013.

Memberships

Planning and Environmental Bar Association

Education

  • Inns of Court School of Law (2002) BVC
  • University of Westminster (Grad Dip) Law 2000
  • University of Nottingham (MA) Regional Planning 1992
  • University of Oxford (MA) Geography 1989

Latest news

16th February 2024

Giles Atkinson was successful in resisting an appeal against non-determination of application for a large care home

Giles was successful in resisting an appeal against non-determination of application for 150 houses and a 50-bed Care Home in the Metropolitan Green Belt,...

16th August 2023

Giles Atkinson Finds Success in Multiple Complex Planning Cases

Giles Atkinson has had a great couple of years in the planning industry, representing Local Authority in complicated matters. See below and on Giles'...

16th June 2021

Planning Law Update – 28th June

We are very pleased to be hosting a Planning Law Update webinar this month.

22nd March 2021

Breaches of Enforcement Notices lead to prosecution

Giles Atkinson represented the defendants who were convicted for breaching listed building enforcement notices.

15th November 2019

Giles Atkinson represents local authority in challenge to Planning Inspector’s decision

Giles Atkinson represented the London Borough of Haringey in a successful section 289 challenge to an Inspector’s decision

25th May 2018

Regulatory Law Conference 2018 (Birmingham)

Six Pump Court will present a Regulatory Law Conference on 13th July in Birmingham.

18th May 2018

Giles Atkinson represents successful applicant in planning enforcement prosecution

Successful application under POCA section 22 to reconsider available amount following prosecution for breach of planning enforcement notices.

8th November 2017

Giles Atkinson successfully challenges gypsy status of appellant

Given the breadth of the definition of ‘gypsies and travellers’ in the Government’s Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, it is rare for an appellant asserting gypsy status to be successfully challenged.

9th October 2017

Regulatory and Planning Law Conference 2017 (Leeds)

Six Pump Court presents a Regulatory and Planning Law Conference to be held on 20th November in Leeds.

5th June 2017

Rural housing development and treatment of former agricultural buildings

Giles Atkinson has successfully represented a local planning authority at a combined enforcement notice and planning appeal inquiry into the development of new housing in the countryside.

28th April 2017

Vacant building credit and housing development in the Green Belt

Giles Atkinson has successfully defended an LPA’s decision not to apply the Vacant Building Credit to a 46 house development in the Metropolitan Green...

15th March 2017

LPA decision to refuse permission for housing development upheld

Giles Atkinson has successfully defended at appeal a LPA’s decision to refuse permission for 95 houses on a greenfield site at Wivelsfield, East Sussex....

24th October 2016

Mock Public Inquiry – Friday 11th November

Six Pump Court in association with The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London will be presenting this Mock Inquiry on Friday...

5th October 2016

Planning, POCA and PFI – What You Need To Know

We are very sorry but this event has had to be cancelled. Six Pump Court Chambers and BDO (LLP) will present a Legal and...

29th February 2016

Planning and POCA: Court orders confiscation of rental profits

Giles Atkinson represented the local authority, the London Borough of Lambeth, in a successful prosecution of a breach of an enforcement notice. The notice...

14th September 2015

Mock Public Inquiry – Friday 6th November

Six Pump Court in association with The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London will be presenting this Mock Inquiry on Friday...

16th October 2014

Mock Public Inquiry – Friday 7th November

Six Pump Court in association with The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London will be presenting this Mock Inquiry on Friday...

Events

28th June 2021

Planning Law Update Webinar

We are very pleased to be hosting a Planning Law Update webinar this month.

Contact my clerks

Ryan Barrow

Ryan Barrow

First Junior Clerk
Michael Hearn

Michael Hearn

Second Junior Clerk