Planning

Ian Wattie, Planning
At Burness we take the approach that planning issues should be tackled up front. This avoids delays and rising costs in projects. We go to great lengths to understand the background of any project. To this end, our planning law team forms part of our integrated property, construction, environment and capital projects business and this ensures close collaboration with those departments.

Burness offers planning expertise in both contentious and non-contentious matters – a full service offering that is highly regarded by clients in the public and private sector.

Our experience across non-contentious planning issues includes providing strategic advice on development plans, planning applications and permissions, and negotiating planning agreements.

We regularly give advice and represent clients in contentious applications where there may be significant objection from pressure groups and other interest groups, on call-ins, appeals and public inquiries. We also have experience in dealing with judicial review actions.

Our client base includes developers, retailers, funders and investors, as well as those operating in niche sectors like renewables, waste, and water sectors where we have the specialist in-depth knowledge and expertise.

"an impressive range of legal skills and sound knowledge of the inner workings of Scottish councils."  Chambers UK