Anne Williams has been a specialist Planning and Environmental law barrister for over 20 years, having previously practiced at Landmark Chambers.

She specialises in advising and appearing for developers and public authorities at Planning Inquiries and in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and House of Lords. Anne is regularly instructed by a large number of authorities throughout England. She sat as an Inspector in a number of Village Green inquiries and is currently sitting as a Village Green Inspector in Enfield. 

Her Planning Inquiry work includes:

• The National Gallery Extension (Trafalgar Square)
• Stone Bassett New Town
• Shellhaven – proposed container port, rail line and commercial and logistics centre containing 10 million sq ft of commercial development, Thames Gateway (this was a six month inquiry, granted planning permission in 2007 and described as a ‘once in a lifetime’ case) and many office, retail and residential proposals involving planning and environmental issues.
• She has promoted five development plans in inquiries lasting up to 3 months
• Conducted the first Bar Direct planning case for The Outdoor Advertising Council of Great Britain.
• Resisted a highly controversial application to register a village green on behalf of the main objector - Hythe Town Council.
• Various section 288 challenges to Inspector’s decisions.
• Appears for local authorities when councillors have overturned officers’ recommendations.
• Regularly acts for local authorities resisting major housing developments, including Basingstoke & Deane District Council, Arun District Council and Hart District Council.
• Very experienced in conducting cases relating to conservation and design.
• Advised Norfolk County Council on potential judicial review challenge.
• Appears frequently for developers promoting residential and commercial development.
• Advised London Borough of Islington on affordable housing policy.
• Appeared in a recent High Court challenge under the Habitats Regulations.

Anne accepts public access instructions.

In 2009 Anne Williams was appointed to the Enabling Panel of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). She regularly lectures and speaks at conferences on planning law and has made programmes for Legal Network TV. She is a visiting lecturer at UCL.

Articles and Publications
Anne Williams has written articles for various publications including Planning – most recently on the application of the Habitats Directive to the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Areas.

Atkins Court Forms 
Editor, Town and Country Planning - 2010

Editor, Protection of the Environment and Public Health – 2007

Halsbury’s Laws

Contributor to Town and Country Planning volume and Open Spaces volume

Blundell & Dobry: Planning Applications and Appeals
Published by Sweet and Maxwell, this successful and long-established work comprises a practical guide to all aspects of appeals and inquiries connected with the planning process.