James Cook

Practice Area

Planning, enforcement, compulsory purchase, rights of way and highways, listed buildings, advertisement control, town and village greens, local government procedure

Relevant Experience

Legal and strategic advice in respect of major regeneration planning, including mixed use schemes, housing, retail, business parks, minerals and telecommunications

General planning law advice, listed building advice, planning enforcement, certificates of lawfulness, advertisements, conservation areas, town and village greens and advice on the preparation of development plans and local development frameworks

Planning Appeals including the administration of public inquiries, the preparation of evidence for inquiries and instructing Counsel

The co-ordination of High Court actions including the promoting and resisting judicial reviews, statutory challenges and injunctions

Compulsory purchase proceedings (both promoting and opposing orders) including public inquiry work and advice on compensation for compulsory purchase

Planning and highway agreements pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act and Sections 38 and 278 of the Highways Act 1980

Highways and rights of way including closures, diversions and public inquiries

Advising on local government and administrative procedure including constitutional matters, enforcement, listed building control and freedom of information

Background

BA (Joint Hons) Law & Politics

Solicitor, qualified 2002

Trained and three years post qualification with Eversheds, Leeds

Two years with Kirklees Council's Legal Services Department