Member News
Law firm Ward Hadaway has strengthened its planning team in Leeds with the appointment of a new Partner, together with an associate lawyer and an experienced planning technician.
James Garbett, Matthew Hills and Kevin Sanderson have joined the firm’s planning team in Leeds, part of its Built Environment Group, collectively bringing almost 40 years’ experience between them.
James has joined the firm as a Partner and is responsible for leading the planning team across the Yorkshire and North West regions. He advises on all aspects of Town and Country Planning law including advising on planning application, appeal, and overall consenting strategies, and on the drafting and negotiation of planning obligations and related agreements.
He acts on behalf of a wide range of clients including national and regional housebuilders, registered providers, Build-to-Rent operators, landowners & land promoters, funders & investors, and local authorities/ other public sector bodies.
Commenting on his appointment, James said: “I’m delighted to be joining such a great team and it’s impressive to see the growth and expansion of Ward Hadaway’s Built Environment Team over the last couple of years.
"It is both an exciting and a challenging time to be working in the planning sector, and I see my mission as to help clients navigate what is an increasingly complex system.
“Ward Hadaway is one of the North’s leading law firms with an excellent reputation not only here in Yorkshire but right across the North and I’m looking forward to meeting and working with our clients.”
Matthew joins as an Associate in the planning team and specialises in all areas of contentious and non-contentious planning law. He joins the firm from a large Local Planning Authority and has a wealth of experience in local authority decision-making processes, with respect to not only legal duties and principles but to local and national planning policy and relevant case law. He also has experience in dealing with planning appeals.
He acts for a variety of clients in drafting and negotiating planning obligations, alongside advising on permitted development, development management and planning enforcement matters.
Also joining James and Matthew is Kevin Sanderson, who has relocated from the firm’s Newcastle office. Kevin has worked at Ward Hadaway for 15 years and is an experienced Planning Technician.
Robin Atkin, Head of the Real Estate Team at Ward Hadaway, said: “The Built Environment Team has grown substantially over the last couple of years and as we continue to grow and secure new clients and contracts, it’s important we continue to attract and recruit high-calibre individuals to deliver an excellent service to our clients."
“James, Matthew and Kevin are all highly experienced professionals. These three appointments demonstrate our commitment to grow and strengthen our planning service to new and existing clients.”
All three will be based out of the firm's Wellington Place office in the business quarter of the city.
