Spencer advises on all aspects of planning law and has acted on schemes which are complex, high profile and often contentious with a strategic mind and focus on viability matters.
Spencer is a build to rent and alternative resi sector (student and co-living) sector expert, extremely well-connected in that sector and fully understands the model, including forward fund transactions.
Experience:
Battersea Power Station Development Company
Advising the owners of Battersea Power Station on its £8 billion regeneration, one of the country’s most complex and high-profile development projects which includes an extensive residential, office and retail offering as well as associated infrastructure such as a new tube station.
John Lewis Partnership
Acting for JLP in respect of their Build-to-Rent development portfolio, including successful West Ealing planning appeal (2025) for a new Waitrose store and circa 430 BtR units above and also planning applications submitted in respect of redevelopments in Bromley, London and Reading, Berkshire.
Capital and Regional
Acting for Capital and Regional on the development of The Mall, Walthamstow – a real place maker in Walthamstow including two tall towers for BtR (for Long Harbour).
Greystar
Acting for Greystar on a number of their prestigious development sites including: BtR scheme Lombard Road (Wandsworth): student resi scheme at Capital House (Southwark); BtR scheme at One Lansdowne (Croydon).
Socius/First Base
Advising on BtR development at Saxon Court, Milton Keynes which will include a 34-storey tower.
London Square
Advising across multiple developments, including Leegate Shopping Centre, Lewisham and in relation to the redevelopment of Vulcan Wharf, Stratford which includes 5 blocks of development and successfully advising in relation to S1/S11 Stratford Cross to achieve a build-to-rent development and forward funding model.
Galliard
Advising on a number of key developments including Soho Loop, Birmingham, Former Honey Monster Factory (Ealing), Creekside, Deptford Wharf (Lewisham), Lower Essex St (BtR development in B’ham) and the redevelopment of the Leegate Centre (Lewisham) and, in partnership with DS Real Estate, advising on successful planning appeal (2025) for the redevelopment of The Point, Milton Keynes.
Amro Partners
Advising on their BtR scheme for circa 450 units across two towers up to 39 storeys in height at the Croydon Park Hotel site, development of Quadrant House, Sutton and Lewisham Retail Park.
Donard Group
Advising Donard in respect of its BtR development portfolio across many sites including Crown Gardens, Woking; Ironmongers site in Rochester, Kent; Andover, Hampshire, Basildon, Essex and York Gate, Bristol.
Westrock & Platform_
Advising on a number of BtR schemes including: the redevelopment of Bank House, Milton Keynes for 350 BtR units which was successfully granted planning on appeal in July 2024 by the Planning Inspectorate; Crawley Town Hall scheme; and a 1500 residential-led BtR mixed use development in Holbeck, Leeds.
Apache/Present Made
Advising on new housing development and country park scheme known as Mill View, Central Bedfordshire, a 68-ha site including BtR phases and redevelopment of Kingston Gate, Kingston.
Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing
Advising on the Former Shredded Wheat factory masterplan development site in Welwyn Hatfield for up to 1,500 dwellings and associated infrastructure.