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Heidi Copland
Partner
Planning and Environment
Heidi heads up the firm’s planning and environment group which is made up of both planners and solicitors. The team is highly regarded and has an enviable track record of success in delivering complex major development and regeneration projects both for public and private sector clients.
Heidi is particularly experienced in the negotiation and drafting of section 106 agreements, highways and infrastructure agreements. She has considerable experience of contentious issues and acts in judicial review and statutory review claims, planning appeals, statutory nuisance appeals and planning and environmental prosecutions.
She has a particular interest in highways and rights of way, heritage and enforcement and can guide clients through the complexities of these areas.
Heidi works primarily in our Gatwick office but also collaborates closely with colleagues in our other locations.
Work highlights
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Acting for a number of Local Planning Authorities assisting them with their section 106 caseload. This includes bespoke solutions to secure aspects such as affordable housing (including new tenures), water neutrality and biodiversity net gain and viability review mechanisms
HOUSEBUILDERS
Acting for a number of residential developers on their planning agreements (section 106) and highways/water infrastructure agreements (sections 38, 278 and 104 etc.)
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION FOOTBALL CLUB / THE COMMUNITY STADIUM LIMITED
Advising on their planning and related legal work which has included securing planning permission for a new Stadium, new Training Ground and strategic mixed use development and all associated planning and infrastructure agreements and rights of way diversions
NEWHAVEN PORT & PROPERTIES LTD
Assisting the Port in protecting Port activities and achieving growth and development. Including acting in the landmark Supreme Court case on village greens (Newhaven Port & Properties Ltd) v East Sussex County Council 2015), a public rights of way inquiry, footpath diversion orders and infrastructure agreements
LISTED BUILDINGS
Advising an architect about works carried out to a listed property in London and the ongoing enforcement investigation including submission of listed building consent applications, appeals against listed building and planning enforcement notices and representation at the hearing into these appeals
Services
Sectors
Recent articles
Events
Enjoy drinks and nibbles, network with industry professionals and hear from our expert Planning team on Biodiversity Net Gain at our latest instalment of housebuilders focused events in Guildford.
Insights
The High Court has delivered an important judgment on Community Infrastructure Levy liabilities where a self-build exemption is granted but the project does not proceed to completion.
26/11/2025
Insights
On 31 October 2025, Natural England withdrew its position statement on water neutrality within Sussex.
10/11/2025
Media spotlight
Heidi Copland comments for Brighton and Hove news on the potential loss of parking at the new Falmer stadium.
Heidi Copland30/07/2025