Caroline was called to the Bar in 2013 and is currently ranked as one of the top ten planning barristers under 35 (Planning Magazine, 2020).
Caroline has a broad practice within Chambers’ core areas with a particular focus on planning and compulsory purchase and compensation matters. She acts for and advises local government, landowners, developers, private individuals, utilities companies and community interest groups. Notable clients include Countryside Properties, the City of London Corporation, EDF, CPRE and the London Borough of Southwark.
Caroline has experience in the appellate courts, the Upper Tribunal, magistrates’ courts, the Crown Court and planning inquiries including in enforcement and CPO inquiries.
She is the current chair of the Compulsory Purchase Association Future steering group.
Planning and Environment
Caroline’s planning practice covers the full gamut of planning work, including housing schemes, heritage matters, local and neighbourhood plans, PD rights, planning obligations and CIL, advertisements, Habitats Regulations Assessments and EIA, and tricky LDC and enforcement matters.
Caroline’s recent inquiry work includes:
- Acting for the City of London Corporation at two inquiries concerning development adjacent to Hampstead Heath on the North and South Fairground sites
- Acting for LB Camden in an appeal recovered by the Secretary of State concerning the conversion of a house in Primrose Hill to a museum dedicated to Dr Ambedkar by the Indian Government
- Appearing for a developer, as junior to Andrew Tait QC, in securing planning permission for over 1100 homes in Essex
- Acting for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, as junior to Melissa Murphy, in an appeal recovered by the Secretary of State regarding Charlton Riverside Opportunity Area
Her recent or notable court work includes appearances in the High Court in Douglas Bond v Vale of White Horse District Council [2019] EWHC 3080 (Admin) and Dylon 2 Ltd v London Borough of Bromley [2019] EWHC 2366 (Admin) (both led by Craig Howell Williams QC) and in the Court of Appeal in Turner v SSCLG [2015] EWCA Civ 582 and Banner Homes v St Albans City and DC [2018] EWCA Civ 1187 (both led by Douglas Edwards QC).
With regard to Local Plans, Caroline has experience of both promoting and objecting to plans. She currently acts for North Hertfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, South Gloucestershire Council, North Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset and the West of England Combined Authority in promoting their development plans. On the objection side, she is advising and acting for a large community group objecting to the Eastleigh Local Plan on grounds relating to impact on the River Itchen SAC and she recently appeared as their sole counsel at the examination in public She is well versed in all local plan related issues, including the duty to co-operate, OAN and housing requirements, SEA and Habitats Regulation matters, transport and infrastructure issues, viability, and gypsy and traveller accommodation assessments.
Compulsory Purchase and Compensation
Matters relating to compulsory purchase and compensation form a considerable part of Caroline’s practice. Recent or notable work includes:
- Successfully promoting the Aylesbury Estate CPO (as junior to Melissa Murphy), a controversial estate regeneration scheme in Southwark
- Advising and acting for a landowner, Sahaviriya Steel Industries PLC and a group of Thai Banks, as junior to Richard Glover QC, at the Redcar Steelworks CPO Inquiry
- Advising and acting for, as junior to James Pereira QC, a HS2 landowner in a CAAD appeal relating to the new Curzon Street station (SoS for Transport v Curzon Park Ltd & Others [2020] UKUT 37 (LC))
- Advising a landowner on compensation matters arising from the Rail Central and Northampton Gateway Rail Freight Interchange DCOs
Having acted for the acquiring authority in a reference to the Upper Tribunal regarding the compulsory acquisition of the Grade II* listed Sheerness Royal Dockyard Church, Caroline has a particular interest, and expertise, in heritage CPOs under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
Caroline is one of four editors of the Compulsory Purchase and Compensation Service (Bloomsbury Professional).
Infrastructure
Caroline has a strong interest in infrastructure and has worked on a range of infrastructure matters. She is part of the FTB team (led by Hereward Phillpot QC) promoting EDF’s new Sizewell C nuclear power station and recently acted as sole counsel for the London Borough of Bexley in the Cory Riverside Energy Park DCO hearings.
Rating and Valuation
Caroline regularly advises ratepayers and local authorities on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious rating matters. She has appeared on many occasions in the Magistrates' Court on rating matters and has advised in relation to issues including the backdating of liability, empty rates relief (specifically Makro schemes), charitable relief, and the setting aside of liability orders.
She also advises on council tax matters. Recent experience includes making a successful application to the High Court for the striking out of a statutory appeal made from the Valuation Tribunal regarding council tax liability for students.
Caroline was instructed (as junior to Richard Glover QC) on Mainline Pipeline v Colston, a case in the Upper Tribunal regarding the valuation of an oil pipeline.