Planning & Environmental Law
- Assisting with (or objecting to) planning applications
- Appearing at planning hearings, inquires, statutory appeals or judicial reviews
- Infrastructure and major planning projects
- Traffic Regulation Orders and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
- Local and Neighbourhood Plans
- Compulsory Purchase Orders
- Development Consent Orders
Investigations and enforcement actions brought by, Local Planning Authorities, the Environment Agency or Natural England Recent cases Acting for the "Save Capel" residents association and Capel Parish Council in the 2022 examination of the Tunbridge Wells Local Plan Review Acting for Lenham and then Harrietsham Parish Councils in the 2022 examination of the Maidstone Local Plan Review Acting for a client concerning the responsibility of a Highway Authority for a private bridge over which a public highway passes Acting for the Claimant in the first successful judicial review concerning a General Vesting Declaration issued by Birmingham City Council following the confrmation of a Compulsory Purchase Order -R(Dawes) v Birmingham City Council [2001] EWHC 1676 Acting for a group of 11 objectors in the City of Westminister (Ebury Birgde Estate) CPO 2022 - successfully assisting all 11 to reach agreements to voluntarily sell their property to the Council.
Public & Administrative Law
Claims for judicial review Appeals against decisions made by the Disclosure and Barring Service, the Information Commissioner, the HSE and other arms of Government
- Investigations and sanctions (civil and criminal) brought by the Electoral Commission
- Actions against decisions made by Local Government
- Assisting with “Code of Conduct Complaints” brought against Councillors
Assisting with requests for information made under FOIA or the Environmental Information Regulations Recent Cases Acting of Tandridge District Council (led by Richard Clayton C) in R( D & R) v Tandridge District Council
General Civil litigation
- Property disputes involving trespass and nuisance
- Landlord and tenant disputes
Memberships
- Planning and Environment Bar Association (PEBA)
- Compulsory Purchase Association (CPA)
- Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
- Agricultural Law Association (ALA)
- Kent Law Society
Testimonials
Simon took on our case at short notice. He offered invaluable legal advice and dealt with our case in a swift and brilliant way. His professionalism, attention to detail, sincerity and empathy reassured us that we made a superb choice. We could not have asked for a better Barrister to represent us!
I cannot put into words just how much Simon helped us. How genuine and kind he has been and how he's held our hands through all the things we were completely clueless on how to deal with. Simon spent so much time on our case. Nothing was ever too much. He even worked during his holiday and on weekends, which I felt so bad about but also so extremely grateful. Because it was a very critical window we were working to. He is the only person we have dealt with in all of this that was true to his word and in fact did more for us than we could have ever expected. Simon, thank you for being so diligent, so fantastic at what you do and for just being all round amazing!
Simon was absolutely amazing at helping us with our case against the council. It has been such a long and hard battle and we were beginning to lose faith. We only wish that we had instructed Simon sooner as all his help and advice was invaluable! The leaps that Simon made in such a short space of time were phenomenal. Thank you for all your help, support and knowledge. We could not have gotten where we are without you.
Privacy Notice
This privacy notice explains how, why and for how long Simon Bell will process or retain your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
If Simon has been instructed by you, your litigation friend, your solicitor or agent, or through a pro bono referral, it is necessary to process your personal data in order to provide legal services. This may include advising on the prospects of litigation, advising on the value of a claim, representation at hearings or trial, and reviewing legal issues or evidence.
Recipients of your data
Depending on the nature of your case, data may be shared with courts and tribunals, your solicitors or agents, witnesses, experts, other legal representatives, ombudsmen or regulators, education and examining bodies, and current, past or prospective employers.
Special categories of data
Some matters require processing special category personal data, including information about health, ethnicity, religion, trade union membership, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal allegations and convictions. Such data will only be processed where necessary to represent you or advise on your claim.
Retention
Your personal data will be retained for no longer than necessary and, where possible, anonymised. In general, records relating to cases are retained for at least six years to comply with professional obligations under the Bar Code of Conduct and tax record-keeping obligations.
Once your case has concluded and any fees have been paid, only the personal data necessary for regulatory compliance, conflict checking, defence of complaints or fee disputes, and reference in future similar cases will be retained.
Your rights
You may request confirmation that your personal data is being processed, request a copy of that data, request rectification of inaccurate data, object to certain processing, request restriction of processing, or request erasure where the GDPR permits it. Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time, although doing so may mean Simon can no longer provide the legal services requested.
Security
Appropriate physical and technical measures are taken to safeguard your personal data and prevent unauthorised access, accidental loss, misuse or disclosure.
Complaints or queries
If you have any questions about this privacy notice, or how your personal data is used, please email clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk or the clerks at clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk, or call 01823 247 247.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Further information is available at ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/.
Work with Simon
Send us your details and a member of the clerking team will be in touch. Or call us now on 01823 247 247.