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 also acts for both local authorities and developers so brings a dual perspective and appreciation to his advice.

Spencer has written the first comprehensive legal planning guide for Lexis Nexis on “Viability in Planning”. He has also written a chapter on Planning Law Due Diligence in “Risk and Negligence in Property Transactions” published by the Law Society with follow-up to this due for release in 2022 and has been published in Estates Gazette, Planning Magazine and the Planner. He also hosts a regular Clubhouse event with his colleague, Simon Ricketts, on all things planning.

Experience:

Spencer is fast becoming a go to specialist in large scale and complex developments (including the build to rent sector) across England acting for both developers and local authority clients, including:

Advising the owners of the Battersea Power Station on its £8 billion regeneration, one of the country’s most complex and high-profile development projects which is to include an extensive residential, office and retail offering as well as associated infrastructure such as a new tube station;

Acting for Capital and Regional on the development of The Mall, Walthamstow – a real place maker in Walthamstow, with permission granted in July 2018 and a new scheme secured in October 2021 to include two tall towers for build to rent;

Advising Arun District Council in relation to two new strategic settlements (one for up to 4300 homes and the other for up to 2500 homes, and the associated infrastructure for both). Legal matters include dealing with fragmented landownership issues to achieve equalisation of planning obligation costs across the site, drafting section 106 agreements and all other associated planning matters which may arise per application;

Advising Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on the new developments at Paddock Wood;

Advising Socius on build to rent development at Saxon Court, Milton Keynes which will include a 34-storey tower.

Advising Galliard on a number of key developments including Soho Loop, Birmingham, Former Honey Monster Factory (Ealing), Creekside, Deptford Wharf (Lewisham) and the Leegate Centre (Lewisham);

Acting for St William (Berkeley Group) on redevelopment of Fulham Gas Works and Marian Place, Bethnal Green; and

Advising Satnam Millennium on a recovered appeal for the development of 1500 residential units in Warrington which was allowed by the SoS in November 2021.