Keith Lancaster

Expertise

Keith specialises in planning, compulsory purchase, highways and infrastructure, judicial review, biodiversity and environmental law. Keith has extensive experience in acting for many of the UK’s largest housebuilders and developers, local authorities and land promoters. 

He is experienced in advising clients on all types of planning matters across a range of sectors including residential, assisted living and regeneration; retail; industrial and logistics; energy (including solar, tidal and nuclear schemes); infrastructure; aviation; utilities; mining; and mixed-use. 

Keith also has experience in advising acquiring authorities on their planning obligations in relation to the promotion of Compulsory Purchase Orders, supporting clients throughout the process. From working with the local authority to establish a compelling need for use of powers through to advising on engagement with neighbouring landowners and insurance companies, drafting and negotiating CPO indemnity agreements and commenting on draft statement of reasons, CPO maps and CPO land interest schedules.

How do you help clients?

I help clients progress their developments by facilitating and supporting all types of planning requirements. Helping them plan ahead to offer their planning applications the best chance of success and supporting them in fulfilling their planning obligations efficiently and effectively.

Experience

1. Advising a national housebuilder on planning and environmental risk in relation to unconditional site purchases and on issues for the development of sites with existing permissions. Issues included EIA, Habitats Reg compliance, CIL, SSSI works, SANG provision, SINCs, ancient woodland and TPOs, affordable housing and highway delivery issues, FoI and EIR requests, interaction with neighbouring development, appeal representations in relation to allocated sites, hybrid application strategy, viability issues and representation at hearings.
2. Advising on the promotion of a CPO to enable access for a 100% affordable housing development. 
3. Acting for a client on a s.278 and s.5 highways agreement with the local city council for a 1.2km new dual carriageway, a 3.5m wide combined cycle/ footway and improvements to two roundabouts. Additional advice provided in relation to diversions to existing highways.
4. Advising and representing an airport operator at a week-long public inquiry on the impact of a proposed wind turbine development on airport operations and radar, safeguarding, instrument flight procedures and commercial strategies leading to a successful outcome.
5. Advising a regional housebuilder and assisted living provider on challenging the adoption of part of the Local Plan under s.113 of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 following errors in the Inspector’s report and recommendations in order to secure less policy restricted development land in a high value and historic residential Thames-side location. The challenge was successful and forced a re-consultation of certain designations.