Stephanie’s planning practice covers all areas of planning law, including judicial reviews, planning statutory reviews and planning appeals. She appears in court and at inquiries, both in her own right and as junior counsel, in addition to advising clients at all stages of the planning process.

Court work

Stephanie has significant Planning Court experience. Recent cases include:

• R (WildFish) v Buckinghamshire Council [2026] EWCA Civ 283 – represented the defendant (led by Charles Streeten) in a challenge to the discharge of reserved matters. One of the main issues was whether an approval of reserved matters was made pursuant to the outline planning permission in respect of which it was made, or the subsequent s.73 permission.
• Ross v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWHC 1183 (Admin) - represented the claimant (led by Annabel Graham Paul) in a challenge to a decision to grant planning permission for a 49.9MW solar farm, in which a central issue was whether NPS policy EN-3 permitted the “overplanting” of solar panels for reasons other than panel degradation;
• R(Parkes) v Dorset Council [2024] EWHC 1253 (Admin) – represented the Third Interested Party (led by Richard Honey KC), in a case which established that the sea bed was not “land” under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
• R(Gurajena and Benta) v London Borough of Newham [2024] EWHC 1745 (Admin) – represented the defendant in a case which clarified the meaning of “adjoining” under the DMPO and the requirement to reconsult following the amendment of plans as part of a planning application.

Inquiries and hearings

Stephanie is also regularly instructed as sole counsel and as junior counsel in planning appeals and inquiries. Recent work includes:

Inquiries

• Cambourne to Cambridge (2025), an inquiry regarding the proposed Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C) guided busway under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (led by Hereward Phillpot KC)
• Royal Mint Court (2025), a public inquiry on the redevelopment of Royal Mint Court for use as the new Chinese Embassy (led by Morag Ellis KC)
• Land at Icknield Way and Sears Drive (2024), an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the erection of a Class E discount foodstore (led by Craig Howell Williams KC)
• Land at the Former Animal Health Trust Research Centre (2024), an appeal against the refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use (led by Douglas Edwards KC)
• Land at New Oaks Farm (2023), an enforcement inquiry concerning the alleged unlawful change of use of a caravan to residential use (sole counsel)

Hearings

• 120 Leman Street (2026), appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a change of use from office (Class E) use to hotel (Class C1) (sole counsel);  
• 1 Alie St (2025), an appeal against the refusal of permission for a change of use of part of a building from Class E use to flexible Class E / Class F1 use (sole counsel)
• 7-15 Blount Street (2024) an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for purpose-built student accommodation (sole counsel)
• Land to the north of Rosthwaite Farm (2024), an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a farm diversification scheme (sole counsel)

Advisory work

Stephanie’s advisory practice covers all aspects of planning law. She has recently advised clients on matters including:

• Interpretation of a planning permission
• Non-material amendments
• The lawful implementation of a planning permission
• Local occupancy conditions
• Costs in planning appeals
• Lawfulness of enforcement action
• Consultation obligations
• Incomplete developments
• Permitted development rights

Stephanie has a thriving environmental law practice and has acted in several significant environmental law challenges in recent years. These include representing the intervener in Darwall and another v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20 (on whether access to the commons for the purposes of open-air recreation included a right to wild camp) and acting for the defendant in Friends of the Earth & Ors v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2024] EWHC 2707 (Admin), in which the landmark decision of the European Court of Human Rights, Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz v Switzerland was considered by the High Court.

Stephanie has advised clients across a broad spectrum of environmental matters, including:

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Habitats Regulations Assessment
• Human rights & climate change
• Environmental Permitting
• Fisheries
• Waste law
• Water (including advising on the WFD Regulations, riparian rights and on provisions of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009)
• SSSIs

Recent advisory work includes advising on the interpretation of the Water Framework Directive Regulations and the Farming Rules for Water. She has also recently advised clients on waste management and related matters.

Stephanie writes and speaks on various environmental law issues. She gave a case law update at the UKELA Conference 2025 and regularly speaks at FTB’s Quarterly Environmental Law updates.

She is also a regular contributor to FTB’s Environmental Law Blog. Her recent posts include:

• Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ Advisory Opinion on “Climate Emergency and Human Rights”: an Overview (with Emma Rowland), FTB Environmental Law Blog, 10 July 2025.
• A Finch in the coalmine? Friends of the Earth v SoS Levelling Up, Housing and Communities & others [2024] EWHC 2349 (Admin), FTB Environmental Law Blog, 24 October 2024
• Specific Disclosure of Ministerial Submissions: the Cumbria Coalmine Case, FTB Environmental Law Blog, 20 February 2024
• Habitats Protections Under Fire: Part 2 – The Energy Act 2023, FTB Environmental Law Blog, 20 December 2023
• Habitats Protections Under Fire: Part 1 – the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023, FTB Environmental Law Blog, 1 December 2023
• Darwall v Dartmoor: open-air recreation re-defined?, FTB Environmental Law Blog, 21 March 2023
• Torres Strait Islanders Decision: Admissibility, Article 6 and Adaptation, FTB Environmental Law Blog, 19 January 2023

Stephanie is a member of UKELA’s Marine Working Party.

Stephanie’s recent public law work includes representing clients in cases raising difficult points of public and international law, including the application of human rights to environmental claims.

Notable public law cases include:

• Darwall and another v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20 – represented the intervenor (led by Ned Westaway, alongside Esther Drabkin-Reiter) in a challenge which concerned whether access to the commons “on foot or on horseback for the purposes of open-air recreation” under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 includes the right to wild camp.
• R (Friends of the Earth Jordan & Paulley) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2024] EWHC 2707 (Admin) – a challenge to the legality of the third National Adaptation Programme (“NAP3”) under the Climate Change Act 2008 (led by Mark Westmoreland Smith and Charles Streeten)

In addition to court work, Stephanie regularly advises clients on public law matters.

Examples of public law issues arising as part of Stephanie’s practice include:

• Procedural fairness
• Adequacy of reasons
• Apparent bias
• Duty of candour and the appropriateness of specific disclosure
• Mistake of fact
• Fair consultation
• The meaning and scope of the public sector equality duty (PSED)

Stephanie also regularly speaks on public law topics. Recent talks include:

• Judicial review costs and procedure update (FTB Public Law webinar, 4 June 2025)
• Disclosure and the duty of candour in judicial review (FTB Public Law webinar, 22 November 2024)
• ADR in Judicial Review (FTB Public Law webinar, 17 February 2025)

Stephanie is regularly instructed on matters concerning highways, commons and open spaces. She has developed a particular expertise in traffic regulation orders.

Recent cases include:

• Rose (on behalf of Friends of Mill Road Bridge 2) v Cambridgeshire County Council [2025] EWHC 1715 (Admin) – represented the claimant in a challenge to the lawfulness of decision to close a bridge to private cars;
• Darwall and another v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20 – represented the Open Spaces Society (led by Ned Westaway, alongside Esther Drabkin-Reiter) in a challenge which concerned whether access to the commons “on foot or on horseback for the purposes of open-air recreation” under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 includes the right to wild camp;
• Wesson, Chair of Friends of Mill Road Bridge v Cambridgeshire County Council [2024] EWHC 1068 (Admin) – represented the claimant in a challenge to a traffic regulation order (‘TRO’) under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Other recent work includes:

• Advising a charity regarding the merits of pursing action under s.56 of the Highways Act 1980;
• Acting for a landowner at a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) inquiry;
• Acting for a local planning authority supporting the making of a stopping up order under s.257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
• Advising local residents on merits of pursuing an objection to a stopping up order under s.257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

She has also assisted other members of chambers in areas including town and village greens and the diversion of bridleways under the Transport and Works Act 1992.

Stephanie has a busy licensing practice and is frequently instructed to represent parties at review hearings for a range of premises, including nightclubs, bars and off-licenses. 

Stephanie has a growing practice in compulsory purchase and compensation both in her own right and as junior counsel.

Recent work includes:

• Advising an acquiring authority (led by Richard Honey) in respect of a compensation claim;
• Representing an acquiring authority (as sole counsel) in a compensation claim;
• Representing an acquiring authority in a compensation claim, led by Richard Honey KC and Caroline Daly;
• Advising a client on the scope of provisions in the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, led by Rebecca Clutten; and.
• Representing an objector at a CPO inquiry, led by Annabel Graham Paul.

Stephanie has been instructed on several rating and council tax matters. Recent instructions include:

• representing clients in disputes regarding the non-payment of rates;
• advising a client on an appeal to the valuation tribunal (VTE) on a Council Tax matter.

• The University of Law, BPC (very competent) (2021)
• University of Oxford, BA Law (Jurisprudence) (First) (2020)
• University College London & SciencesPo Paris, BA European Social and Political Studies: Dual Degree (First) (2016)
   

• Mistress of Moots, The University of Law
• Wilfred Watson Scholarship, Gray's Inn
• Exhibitioner, Merton College, Oxford
• Fowler Prizes for performance in internal examinations, Merton College, Oxford
• Allen & Overy Second Year Law Prize, Merton College, Oxford
• Sessional Prize, University College London

• Winner UKELA Lord Slynn of Hadley (Senior) Moot (2021)
• Winner HSF Disability Mooting Championship: Oxford v Cambridge (2019) 
• Quarterfinalist at the international rounds of the Price Media Law Moot Court, representing University of Oxford (2018-19) 
   

Prior to commencing pupillage, Stephanie worked as a paralegal at Town Legal LLP, researching and assisting with the drafting of advice on planning issues including:

• Implementation of planning permissions;
• Interpretation of a planning permission;
• Permitted Development rights;
• Changes of use;
• Enforcement time limits.

While at Town Legal, Stephanie also worked on two enforcement appeals and a related judicial review challenge, gaining considerable experience in this area. 
 

• Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
• Compulsory Purchase Association (CPA)
• Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA)
• UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA)

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Stephanie is fluent in Spanish and French, and speaks conversational Italian

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