OUR TEAM
Meet Our Specialists
David Walton
David specialises in all aspects of planning and compulsory purchase and highway law. He advises clients in respect of strategic land promotion for housing, employment, retail and leisure application. He regularly works with multi-disciplinary teams. David also advises upon Judicial Review and Statutory Review proceedings on behalf of developers, objectors and third parties.
Experience
- Acting for developers of large garden village proposals in excess of 3,000 dwellings, concentrating on promotion of such sites through emerging Local Plans
- Advising and leading planning team in relation to a 1.5m sq ft factory
- Advising on promotion of 80 ha employment promotion through Local Plan
- Advising upon strategy in relation to planning applications at all levels big or small, advising in relation to High Court proceedings in relation to planning applications and the adoption of local development plan documents
- Strategic advice in relation to Compulsory Purchase Orders in particular in relation to objectors to such orders and advice upon compensation
- Spent 15 years in local government obtaining a Diploma in Local Government Law and Practice, Legal Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, co-authored Development Plans Law and Practice (Sweet & Maxwell)
Visit David’s LinkedIn page
Alec Cropper
Alec specialises in all aspects of planning and compulsory purchase. He advises clients in respect of strategic applications, planning appeals, High Court proceedings and site promotion through the plan-making process. He regularly negotiates planning, highways and infrastructure agreements to support major development schemes.
Alec acts for a broad range of clients, including developers, national housebuilders, student accommodation providers, public authorities and private individuals. He advises across various development types, including large scale residential, employment, leisure, waste and renewables projects.
Experience
- Acting for a student accommodation provider and national hotel operator in respect of a planning appeal proceeding by way of public inquiry
- Advising a strategic land promotor in respect of an application for 3000 dwellings, including promotion of the site through the emerging local plan
- Negotiation of various Section 106 and Section 278 agreements to deliver a strategic urban extension of 1600 dwellings and associated infrastructure
- Advising a consortium of national housebuilders in relation to High Court proceedings against the adoption of local planning policy documents
- Acting for the promotor of a Compulsory Purchase Order to deliver a £40 million mixed-use town centre regeneration scheme, including implementation and compensation advice
- Advising a renewable energy company on planning considerations and environmental impact assessment of a proposed energy from waste facility
Visit Alec’s LinkedIn page
James Cook
James has over two decades of experience in all aspects of town and country planning and highways law, having worked in both the private and public sector. James is a ranked individual in Chambers & Partners and acts for a broad range of clients including developers, landowners, local authorities and private individuals.
James advises clients in relation to all aspects of the planning process across sectors such as housing, employment, energy, retail, leisure (including holiday parks) and minerals and waste. This includes advising on site promotion through the local plan; strategic advice on planning applications (including the legal review of environmental statements); planning appeals; the drafting and negotiation of section 106 agreements and highway agreements; and judicial review.
James also advises on the scope of permitted development rights, planning enforcement matters (including applications for certificates of lawful development), heritage, the Community Infrastructure Levy and town and village greens.
James’ highways law practice includes advising on issues relating to the existence of public rights of way, the dedication and adoption of highways, the closure and diversion of highways and the making of traffic regulation orders.
Experience:
- Advising a residential developer on the comprehensive redevelopment of a site for build to rent development
- Acting on behalf of a local authority with regard to the negotiation and completion of various Section 106 Agreements
- Negotiation of various Section 106 and Section 278 Agreements on behalf of developers to deliver development
- Preparation and submission of judicial review and statutory review challenges in the High Court
- Providing advice and support on major project work for a business park (1.8m sq ft), employment park (2m sq ft) and mixed-use development (1300 dwellings)
- Acting for a landowner promoting a site for large scale employment development through the local plan process
- Advising developers on the lawful implementation of planning permissions
- Advising developers in relation to the registration of town and village greens
- Advising landowners and developers on CIL issues and vacant building credit
- Providing advice to landowners and developers regarding permitted development rights
- Advising landowners and developers on rights of way issues affecting development
Visit James’ LinkedIn page
Katy McPhie
Katy has experience in all aspects of town and country planning and highways law, having worked in both the private and public sector. Katy acts for a broad range of clients including developers, landowners, local authorities and private individuals.
Katy qualified in 2011 and advises clients in relation to all aspects of the planning process across sectors such as housing, employment, energy, retail, leisure and holiday parks. This includes strategic advice on planning applications, planning appeals, judicial review and the drafting and negotiation of section 106 agreements.
Katy also advises on the scope of permitted development rights, planning enforcement matters, applications for certificates of lawful development and the Community Infrastructure Levy.
Katy’s highways law practice includes advising on issues relating to the existence of public rights of way, the dedication and adoption of highways, the closure and diversion of highways, the making of traffic regulation orders and section 38 and 278 agreements.
Experience includes:
- Advising developers on comprehensive redevelopments of sites for large-scale residential and build to rent schemes, employment schemes and energy developments
- Providing advice in respect of judicial review and statutory review challenges in the High Court
- Advising developers on the lawful implementation of planning permissions and interpretation of planning conditions
- Advising landowners and developers on issues relating to the community infrastructure levy, vacant building credit and biodiversity net gain
- Providing advice to developers regarding permitted development rights, including in respect of the provision of additional residential storeys on buildings, and converting agricultural buildings to dwelling houses
- Advising in relation to planning enforcement matters and preparing applications for certificates of lawful use or development including in respect of breaches of condition and established use
- Advising landowners and developers on issues relating to highways dedication and adoption, highway improvement works and rights of way affecting development, and notices issued pursuant to the Advanced Payment Code
- Negotiation of various Section 106, Section 38 and Section 278 Agreements on behalf of developers, landowners and local authorities
Visit Katy’s LinkedIn page
Paula Churm
Paula specialises in all aspects of planning and highways law. She advises clients in respect of planning applications, planning appeals, high court proceedings, the local plan process and planning objections. She also regularly negotiates planning and highways agreements to support development schemes.
Paula acts for a broad range of clients including developers, public authorities and private individuals. She advises across various development types including large scale residential, employment, mixed-use developments and renewable projects.
Experience:
- Advising a residential developer on the comprehensive redevelopment of a site for build to rent development
- Acting on behalf of a local authority with regard to the negotiation and completion of various Section 106 Agreements
- Negotiation of various Section 106 and Section 278 Agreements on behalf of developers to deliver development
- Preparation and submission of judicial review and statutory review challenges in the High Court
- Providing advice and support on major project work for a business park (1.8m sq ft), employment park (2m sq ft) and mixed-use development (1300 dwellings)
- Acting for a landowner promoting a site for large scale employment development through the local plan process
- Advising developers on the lawful implementation of planning permissions
- Advising developers in relation to the registration of town and village greens
- Advising landowners and developers on CIL issues and vacant building credit
- Providing advice to landowners and developers regarding permitted development rights
- Advising landowners and developers on rights of way issues affecting development
Visit Paula’s LinkedIn page
Kellie Hainsworth
Kellie specialises in all aspects of planning and highway law. She assists in advising clients in respect of strategic applications, planning appeals, High Court proceedings, the local plan process and planning objections.
Kellie acts for a broad range of clients, including developers, public authorities and private individuals. She advises across various development types, including residential, employment, leisure, waste and renewable projects.
Experience
- Preparation and submission of judicial review and statutory review challenges in the High Court
- Preparation and submission of planning applications
- Assistance and research into local plan documents acting for landowners promoting sites via the local plan process
- Assistance in the negotiation of Section 106 and Section 278 Agreements on behalf of developers
- Advising developers and individuals on permitted development rights
- Assistance and submission of planning and enforcement appeals
- Preparation and submission of planning objections on behalf of developers and individuals
- Submission of applications for footpath diversions
Visit Kellie’s LinkedIn page
Rukayya Kara
Rukayya joined Walton & Co in September 2025 as a Paralegal Apprentice and is studying at BPP University alongside her employment with the firm. Rukayya is working with all team members on all aspects of planning and highways law.
Alongside her studies and practical training, Rukayya is building a foundation in legal research, communication, and problem solving. Rukayya enjoys learning from the expertise of our specialist team.
During her weekends, Rukayya is actively involved in volunteering, which enables her to build and improve a wide range of skills which she hopes to apply throughout the rest of her apprenticeship at Walton & Co.
Stephen Cirell
Stephen has 38 years’ experience as a solicitor, specialising in public and commercial law. He has worked in house in the public sector, was an equity partner with an international law firm for 20 years and has written 18 books on various aspects of public law.
For the last decade, he has specialised in low carbon and renewable energy projects, primarily but not exclusively for local authorities and public bodies.
His work includes developing climate change, sustainability or energy strategies; advising on climate emergencies; advising on all forms of renewable energy projects (including solar PV, wind energy, biomass and hydropower); advising on EVs and transport issues; and establishing Energy Services Companies (ESCOs).
Stephen is also a well-known commentator, writer and speaker on energy matters.
Experience:
- Conceived, planned and procured the first local authority owned solar farm in the UK (Cornwall Council)
- Advised Wrexham County Borough Council on fitting solar PV to 3,000 Council houses (largest scheme in the UK at the time)
- Advised Preston City Council on 9 MW wind energy scheme
- Advised Stockport MBC on developing a biomass supply chain for its social housing
- Advising Swansea City Council, Highland Council, Aberdeen Council and Cardiff City Council on the establishment of an Energy Services Company
- Advising on over 30 solar farm projects for Councils in England, Scotland and Wales
- Advised on part of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project
- Advising various local authorities on developing action plans to deliver their climate emergency targets
Visit Stephen’s LinkedIn page
Stay Up to Date with News and Insights
Sign up here to receive the latest planning news and information straight to your inbox.
Our Latest Articles
NEWS
Class E PD rights allow for the construction of outbuildings, swimming pools, etc within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse. Such rights can therefore avoid having...
NEWS
My first job as a trainee solicitor in local government was to draft a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for a temporary closure of a road...
NEWS
Following the Labour Party’s victory in the 2024 General Election, reform of the planning system has become a key part of the Government agenda. Amongst...