Freeths climbs national planning law rankings following sustained growth

Leading law firm Freeths has once again strengthened its position as one of the UK’s largest planning law practices, rising to eighth place nationally in the 2026 Planning Law Survey and remaining among the sector’s fastest-growing teams.

Published annually by Planning Magazine, the survey ranks law firms by the size of their planning law teams and is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive assessments of the UK planning law market.

Freeths has now been ranked among the UK’s top 10 planning law firms for three consecutive years, moving from ninth place in 2024 and 2025 to eighth place this year. The firm increased its planning solicitor headcount from 18 in 2024, to 24 in 2026, representing growth of a third in just two years.

The survey also recognised Freeths as one of the fastest-growing planning law practices in the country over the same period.

Freeths’ Planning and Environment team advises clients across a broad range of sectors including residential development, strategic land, regeneration, infrastructure, energy, minerals and waste, environmental regulation and natural capital. The 50-strong multidisciplinary team comprises planning lawyers, environmental lawyers, advocates and chartered town planners. The team has expanded significantly in recent years through a combination of organic growth, strategic recruitment and investment in new teams across the UK.

Commenting on team’s success, Freeths’ Partner and National Head of Planning and Environment Paul Brailsford said: “To be recognised among the UK's 10 largest planning law teams for a third consecutive year, while also being identified as one of the fastest-growing practices in the sector, is a fantastic achievement for everyone in the team.

"Over the past five years we have grown the turnover of our Planning and Environment practice from under £3 million to more than £9 million, while continuing to broaden the sectors and services we support.

"As planning continues to play a critical role in delivering new homes, major infrastructure and the UK's energy transition, we remain focused on building a market-leading national practice that can support clients through an increasingly complex planning and environmental landscape.”