Mary is a leading planning barrister and a regular panel member of the Have We Got Planning News For You show. Prior to Town she was a member of Cornerstone Barristers where she served as Joint Head of Chambers. She is one of Town’s founding partners.

Experience:

Development Schemes & Strategic Land Advice
Mary regularly offers early strategic advice on the promotion of regeneration schemes, considering the prospects of changing policy contexts, testing the robustness of the planning strategy and ultimately shaping the planning application and considering the need for and adequacy of EIA screening and/or scoping opinions. She has considerable experience in schemes involving Green Belt issues, flood risk issues, protected species and their environments, daylight and sunlight assessments, complex transport assessment issues as well as statutory and locally listed buildings and conservation areas. She regularly works in conjunction with colleagues at Town.

Local Plan Examinations & Neighbourhood Plans
Mary is currently appearing at examinations promoting a new garden village in York and advising on viability issues relating to the Cranbrook Local plan in Devon; the redevelopment of previously developed land in the AONB and Green Belt in Kent; allocations for a commercial warehouse and a Rail Freight Terminal in the Green Belt in Central Bedfordshire; and urban extensions in Leicestershire and the Black Country and working to secure numerous housing allocations.

Mary has particular experience in Retirement and Care Homes
Acting and advising Churchill Retirement Living, Inspired Villages Group, Elysian Residences and Carebase.

Schools, Colleges & PBSA
Advising various establishments on their development plans and related planning applications involving listed buildings, conservation areas and MOL in Camden and Haringey and in the Green Belt.

Hotels
Currently advising on three hotel projects in London at various stages in the development pipeline and a significant commercial leisure scheme.

Commercial
Currently advising B2/B8 operators in the Green Belt on expansion prospects and B8 shed scheme on M1 and owners of former airfields transforming them into a mixed-use scheme.

Residences
Mary is advising on a number of appeals for housebuilders, land promoters and landowners in Dorset, South Somerset and Guildford.