Paul Brailsford
Partner, National Head of Planning & Environment
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"‘Paul Brailsford – Planning Team Leader is an outstanding performer in the field. He uses his in depth knowledge to guide the project team to produce exactly what is required to bring about a successful result. A thorough professional in his approach and backed up by a specialist team to work on Statutory Agreements as part of the process."
(The Legal 500, 2024)
Paul has over 18 years’ experience of complex development schemes nationwide and is well known for developing good working relationships with Local Planning Authorities in order to deliver success for his developer clients.
Paul specialises in both large scale development proposals such as retail led town centre regeneration projects and residential led urban extensions; and food and non-food retail development.
He advises on all associated issues from planning strategy, tactics, preparation and submission of applications and appeals and the preparation of complex Environmental Impact Assessments and Retail Impact Assessments.
Paul is listed as a Recommended Lawyer and recognised as a Leading Individual in The Legal 500 (2024 edition) in Planning and Environmental law.
Legal Services
Planning
Recent Work
- Paul has led the Freeths LLP team advising Bela Partnership Limited on planning consultancy, planning legal and environmental legal issues with regard to the delivery of major developments (for example a major urban extension to Corby comprising 5,095 dwellings, 4 District Centres, 2 Neighbourhood Centres, a Secondary School, 3 primary schools, a hotel and 62,150 square meters of employment land across two local planning authority areas).
- Paul has advised Simons Developments and Tesco Stores in respect of the redevelopment of land assets in Portsmouth. Ultimately securing planning permission for a substantial out of centre retail and leisure proposal comprising circa. 75,000 sq ft of new floorspace. This included successfully dealing with difficult issues in respect of the sequential approach and retail impact in the face of objection from other retail asset owning funds in the City. Paul advised on complex planning obligations and Community Infrastructure Levy liability.
- Paul successfully advised Barker and Stonehouse on securing planning permission for a new 40,000 sq ft state of the art flagship store on the former fire station site in Guildford. This involved difficult negotiations with the Highway Authority in respect of integration with and completion of wider program of highway works.
- Paul advised Metropolitan Properties Investments Limited (part of the Freshwater Group) on the redevelopment of its land assets in Lowestoft to provide a new out of centre retail and leisure park, comprising circa. 75,000 sq ft of floorspace for Aldi and The Range amongst others. A difficult scheme to bring forward due to its out of centre location and associated retail planning issues, viability issues and Community Infrastructure Levy mitigation.
Latest
- Freeths planning for success in Bristol with senior hire
- Freeths secures planning permission for new state-of-the-art Care Home, Centre of Excellence and Headquarters Office on behalf of Hallmark Care Homes
- Mandatory biodiversity net gain rules starting November 2023: Further information published by the Government on 21 February 2023
- Freeths continues to bolster environmental services with senior hire
- Freeths enhances leading UK planning and environmental offering with partner appointment
- Permitted Development Changes
- Planning For Change: Changes To The Current Planning System Consultation
- Planning For Change: Government White Paper
- Demolition and Redevelopment of Vacant Residential/Commercial Buildings
- Upward Extensions of Existing Homes to create more space within the same dwelling
- Permitted development rights for the construction of new homes – above existing homes and some commercial uses
- Fundamental Use Class shake-up in England
- Coronavirus planning update: Other significant issues
- Coronavirus planning update: Enforcement
- Coronavirus planning update: Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 Obligations
- Coronavirus planning update: Permitted Development Rights
- Coronavirus planning update: Automatic extension of English planning permissions
- Coronavirus planning update: Decision taking and impacts on five year housing land supply
- Coronavirus planning update: Plan Making
- Coronavirus: Planning Law
- Environmental & Planning Event – Planning for Tomorrow, Today
- Draft Revised NPPF: Key planning changes
To contact Paul or for more information…
Call: 0345 050 3676
Mobile: 0792 013 5570
Or email: Send an email
- Royal Town Planning Institute
“Consistently recognised in The Legal 500 and noted for ‘strong reputation in town centre regeneration projects’ and being ‘commercial and pragmatic’.”
“The Planning team lead by Paul Brailsford are extremely knowledgeable, easy to work with and have a very successful track record. I have worked with them on a number of complex projects and highly recommend them.”
(The Legal 500, 2024)
“Paul Brailsford is the stand out person. he gets involved every step of the planning journey and is an excellent communicator.”
(The Legal 500, 2024)
“Paul Brailsford is my key contact. He has an exceptionally wide range of knowledge regarding planning and the appeals process. You can always contact Paul, no matter how busy he is, and he works with a supportive team within the company.”
(The Legal 500, 2023)
“A real star – I have worked with him many times over the years – he has in depth knowledge and is commercially astute and highly effective.”
(The Legal 500)
Client service
‘Doing the right thing’ is at the heart of Freeths. Find out more about our excellent client service and the strong set of values that guide the way we work.
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Contact: 03301 001 014