03333 231 580
Contact usOur focus is you
With offices across the South East and in London our consultants have a deep understanding of the way local markets operate and how the priorities of individual planning authorities impact planning decisions. We leverage this knowledge in our work with major developers and others, to secure permission and assist in developing sustainable projects that maximise land value and achieve maximum financial returns.
Our track record speaks for itself, successfully having project-managed and delivered a host of major residential and commercial development and regeneration schemes such as the Brighton & Hove Albion Football Stadium, North Horsham urban extension (2750 dwellings, schools, retail and commercial) and the Brighton Jubilee Library and Square.
We also advise on many smaller projects and have recently secured permission for; schemes to extend hotels, sports training facilities, logistics developments, barn conversions, rural housing, town centre apartments, new places of worship and nursing/care homes.
What can our planning consultancy solicitors do for you?
Our planning consultants offer advice on a wide range of planning matters, including site promotion, planning applications and appeals. There is a particular focus on the residential, retail and leisure development sectors as well as the regulatory regime around waste and renewables, infrastructure and heritage assets/listed buildings.
Our work includes:
- Planning applications – We help clients navigate the evolving planning system from scheme conception to completion, including title checks
- Planning appeals –We regularly provide the written representations/statements that are critical to successful appeals and appear in planning inquiries and appeal hearings as expert witnesses
- Local plan examinations – We work with clients at local and neighbourhood plan development stage, promoting their interests and maximising the potential of development land
- Strategic planning advice – Work includes advising on site appraisals, identifying risks and proactively developing legal routes through potential obstacles in the planning process
- Environmental Impact Assessments – Using comprehensive EIAs to smooth the delivery of large-scale projects and reducing the chance of successful challenges to projects on environmental grounds
- Advice on planning issues affecting Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and other heritage assets generally and liaising with heritage agencies and stakeholders
- Certificates of Lawful Development – Working with clients to gather all necessary evidence for a successful application for a certificate, avoiding enforcement action and ensuring any future sale of the relevant land is not complicated by the absence of planning permission
- Advice on water and nitrate neutrality and biodiversity net gain
- Planning enforcement – Including Enforcement Notice appeals
- Community Infrastructure Levy – Guiding developer clients through the complex CIL regulations and ensuring all exemptions and reliefs are applied correctly to reduce the level of CIL payable
Our planning teams are ranked in the top legal directories including Chambers and Partners (Band 1), and Legal 500 (Tier 1), where the firm is recognised as a Leading Firm since 2026.
We have established base offices in London and across the South East including Gatwick and Crawley, Hassocks, Horsham, Brighton and Guildford.
Please note that visits to our office is by appointment only. If you wish to contact one of our planning experts you can do via our online enquiry form or call on +44 (0)3333 231 580.
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Meet the planning team
Recent work
Sectors
s106 Agreement
Multimillion Pound Football Club Development
Advising a major football club on the development of a stadium, training ground and fan zone to include a multi-functional event space and several restaurants.
Planning Consultancy
Planning Application with Environmental Impact
Assisting on planning proposals following a large Sussex Port’s land allocation, relating to development of a hydrocarbon energy production facility, port related warehousing, HGV parking and rest facilities.
Planning Law
Challenging Council Decision
Acting for a motorcycle charity in their challenge to the decision of the London Borough of Hackney to bring in parking charges for motorcycles.
Planning Law
High Court challenge
Acting for a residential property development and construction company in relation to a High Court challenge brought by Waverley Borough Council to the grant of planning permission by a Planning Inspector for a 53 dwelling residential scheme in Surrey.
Planning Law
Environment Agency Prosecution
Advising a local sports and leisure facility on a prosecution by the Environment Agency for alleged offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations in relation to the importation of waste materials to create a bund at a golf club.
Environmental Law
Water Neutrality
Acting in respect of a Planning Application and subsequent section 78 Planning Appeal by Public Inquiry for the erection of 133 dwellings and the consequential impact on designated ecological sites relating to the water demands of the development.
Planning Law
S106 advice on major redevelopment projects
We regularly advise a large District Council on s106 applications that relate to major redevelopment projects or housing schemes. The applications often involve complex drafting and negotiation of the s106 agreements, and we are sometimes required to deal with appeals of decisions. The work is critical in enabling the Planning Authorities to issue planning permission to aid housing delivery in the area.
Planning Law
Advising residents group over development of Green Belt
We represented a group of residents concerned with the impact on them of unneighbourly development on adjoining, agricultural land within the Green Belt and the consequent general degradation of the land.
Planning Law
Advising building company on housing development
We act for a housebuilder in respect of proposals for more than 250 dwellings across two adjacent development sites. This work has included both promotion of the development through the relevant Local Plan process along with preparation and submission of two planning applications to the District Council. The housing scheme will aid delivery of housing in an area where the Council needs to ensure it can reach its target numbers.
Planning Law
Obtaining greenfield site planning permission
We have worked closely with a regional developer to secure planning permission for several dwellings on a greenfield site. This proposal related to a complex site with interrelated access, drainage and tree work issues. Working with a team of consultants we were successful in addressing these concerns and obtaining approval for the client.
Planning Law
Insights
What to expect from our Property and Planning breakfast seminars
Announcements
DMH Stallard has reported exceptional levels of employee satisfaction, with 100% agreeing that the firm is a good place to work in latest survey.
28/09/2026
Insights
DMH Stallard has advised BDX Group Ltd and Socrates Holdings Ltd on the successful acquisition of Socrates Imaging B.V. and Socrates Imaging Ltd.
24/09/2026
Insights
unpacking the High Court’s dismissal of privacy claims arising from unlawful information gathering in Baroness Lawrence v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWHC 1637.
18/09/2026
Events
In this latest webinar, our Immigration team willl provide an overview of what is changing, what it means for your business, and how your commercial contracts and service arrangements may be impacted by the extended liabilities pertaining to third party workers.
