FTB Members Appear in 8 of the 12 of Key Planning Cases of 2025

12 January, 2026

FTB members have appeared in 8 of 12 of Planning Magazine’s 2025 list of twelve key planning court rulings. This follows on from FTB being named as Environment/Planning Set of the Year by Chambers and Partners Bar Awards 2025.

FTB Members Appear in 8 of the 12 of Key Planning Cases of 2025

12 January, 2026

FTB members have appeared in 8 of 12 of Planning Magazine’s 2025 list of twelve key planning court rulings. This follows on from FTB being named as Environment/Planning Set of the Year by Chambers and Partners Bar Awards 2025.

Here are the relevant cases:

Rights: Community: Action, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWCA 990 - 25 July 2025
Ned Westaway appeared for the Government instructed by the Government Legal Department. The case concerned a challenge to a written ministerial statement on energy efficiency standards.

Frack Free Balcombe Residents’ Association v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ors [2025] EWCA Civ 495 - 16 April 2025
Hereward Phillpot KC and Mark O'Brien O'Reilly appeared for the Second Respondent – the developer who had obtained planning permission for the exploration and appraisal of hydrocarbons in the High Weald AONB - instructed by Fieldfisher.

R (Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise) v Secretary of State for Transport and Another [2025] EWHC 3206 (Admin) - 8 December 2025
Michael Humphries KC and Rebecca Clutten appeared for the London Rising instructed by Broadfield Law UK LLP. They also both acted for London Luton Airport Limited in obtaining development consent for the expansion of the airport.

Moakes, R (on the application of) v Canterbury City Council [2025] EWCA Civ 927 - 21 July 2025
Isabella Tafur appeared for the developer who had the benefit of the planning permission, which was challenged in those proceedings, instructed by Maples Teesdale LLP.

Tesco Stores, R (on the application of) v Lidl Great Britain [2025] EWCA Civ 610 - 9 May 2025
Douglas Edwards KC appeared for Lidl Great Britain Ltd instructed by Blake Morgan LLP.

Greenfields (IOW) v Isle of Wight Council [2025] EWCA Civ 488 - 16 April 2025
Charles Streeten and Brendan Brett appeared for the Appellant, Greenfields (IOW) Limited.

Mead Realisations v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Another [2025] EWCA Civ 32 - 30 January 2025
Hugh Flanagan appeared for the First Respondent instructed by the Treasury Solicitor.

CPRE Kent, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWHC 1781 (Admin) - 20 June 2025
Hugh Flanagan appeared on behalf of the First Defendant instructed by the Government Legal Department.