Our specialist Planning lawyers in St Albans provide prompt, practical advice and can help you overcome any obstacles.

We are relatively unusual in having a team of solicitors that specialise in Planning Law. The team has the skills, expertise and local knowledge to ensure your project reaches a successful conclusion. Our expertise is independently recognised through its inclusion in the Legal 500 directory.

The Planning team includes lawyers and consultants, with a broad range of experience in private practice, the public sector, within law firms and as in-house Counsel for property developers.

We work with individuals and businesses in dealing with all aspects of the planning process and frequently represent resident's action groups.

Recent work has included acting for the Green Belt Society to oppose the planning application for a waste incinerator plant made by Veolia at the New Barnfield site in Hatfield.

What can we DO to help you?

Our dedicated team has a high level of legal skill and wide ranging experience to deliver sensible, practical advice that helps our clients' to achieve their objectives.

We can assist you with:

• Planning Applications and Appeals
• Obtaining Certificates of Lawfulness
• Listed Buildings
• Planning Objections
• S. 106 and S. 278 Agreements
• Enforcement Appeals and Defence to Prosecutions
• Judicial Review and High Court Challenges
• Compulsory Purchase
• All Aspects of Environmental Law
• Highways and Footpaths
• Noise Nuisance and Abatement Notices

We work closely with a team of external consultants including planners, architects, surveyors and Counsel.

The Planning team at Debenhams Ottaway are ranked Band 1 in the Watford and surrounds section of the Chambers & Partners 2013 directory. Bernadette Hillman, Partner in the Planning Team is also recognised in the directory as a ‘leading individual’ in her field.

In addition to this recognition, Bernadette is also a Legal Associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute, a member of the Law Society’s accreditation scheme for planning work and an assessor for Law Society planning panel members.  

For more information and advice on all Planning Law matters, please contact Bernadette Hillman on 01727 735658 or email bh@dolegal.co.uk

Bernadette Hillman has once again exceeded my expectations. I had more than I could wish for with my planning application.  My planning officer commented on how well my application was made up and how quickly and efficiently Bernadette conducted the application and the s.106 agreement in a sensitive green belt area. Alan Goodwin