13 01 2026
High Court determines challenge to the development of Chatham Docks
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Jenny is consistently ranked as a leading silk in the legal directories and in Planning Magazine’s survey of planning barristers (see rolling quotes at bottom of the page). Her planning and infrastructure practice is focused on judicial review and statutory review claims in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, together with representing developers, local authorities and rule 6 parties in planning inquiries. Her experience includes High Court challenges relating to interpretation of policy, planning conditions and s.106 obligations, the GPDO, enforcement, adequate consultation, legitimate expectation, adequacy of reasons and environmental matters such as water, nutrient neutrality, heritage, Habitats Regulations, EIA, SEA, air quality and climate change.
For a flavour of her practice, examples of her notable cases include:
Jenny is experienced in energy matters. She appeared in the Supreme Court on behalf of a community wind turbine developer, Resilient Energy, and has acted and advised on a number of judicial reviews and statutory reviews relating to other renewable energy projects. She has recently appeared as a witness at the Energy Security and Net Zero Parliamentary Select Committee on ‘unlocking community energy’ and is a contributor to the Lexis Nexis section on TMO4+ grid connection reforms.
Jenny represents developers, public interest groups, campaign groups, local authorities and central government agencies. She has advised a large unitary local authority in defending refusals of applications by HS2 under Schedule 17 of the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017 and she has represented National Highways in successful defences to statutory reviews of nationally significant highway schemes.
On the non-domestic rating side, her practice includes cases in the Valuation Tribunal, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and the Higher Courts, including in the landmark Divisional Court cases concerning empty rates relief (Makro, Kenya Aid, Digital Pipeline, Pall Mall and Public Health England). She represented the ratepayer in a case concerning the valuation of museums (Hughes (VO) v. Tyne & Wear Museums and Archives [2022] UKUT 206 (LC)) and she recently represented the Valuation Officer in the leading case concerning the valuation of tenant’s fit-out works in commercial offices (Bunyan (VO) v. Acenden Limited
[2023] UKUT 17 (LC)) and Hitchings v. Shoosmiths LLP [2025] UKUT 224 (LC)).
Jenny was formerly a solicitor at Stephenson Harwood.
Ranked in the Directories consistently as a leading silk (and previously a leading junior), Jenny Wigley is "able to create a cogent argument from dust. She is outstanding on her feet” (Chambers and Partners, 2026)
She regularly appears in the Senior Courts in judicial review claims and statutory challenges. Her cases include two recent successes in the Court of Appeal (R (oao Whitley Parish Council) v. North Yorkshire CC [2023] EWCA Civ 92 and R (oao Wingfield) v. Canterbury CC [2020] EWCA Civ 1588), two successful Local Plan challenges (Aireborough NDF v. Leeds CC [2020] EWHC 1461 (Admin) and Jopling v. Richmond upon Thames LBC ([2019] EWHC 190 (Admin)), and an appearance in the Supreme Court (R (oao Wright) v. Resilient Energy Severndale Ltd [2019] UKSC 53) and countless more recent judicial reviews and statutory reviews in the High Court.
Jenny has advised a large unitary local authority in defending refusals of applications by HS2 under the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017. She has also represented National Highways in relation to statutory reviews of nationally significant highways schemes and she provides advice in relation to DCO schemes.
She also appears in planning inquiries, examinations and hearings relating to all aspects of development and enforcement for developers, local authorities and other interested persons. She has successfully steered two super prisons through the planning system and has acted for the owners of the Bell Hotel in Epping successfully defending against an application for an planning injunction. She has been successful in representing a Parish Council at a three week Inquiry as the sole party opposing an appeal for 800 houses in Essex on primarily transport grounds, without the support of the highway authority. She has appeared for a local planning authority in an inquiry successfully resisting the conversion of a listed public house to residential use, a case involving complex viability and heritage issues.
In addition to the many reported cases in which she has appeared in the High Court and Court of Appeal (see cases tab for some examples), Jenny has succeeded in achieving quashing orders by consent and other favourable settlements for both claimants and developers in many more judicial review and statutory review cases. She has appeared many times for claimants (public interest groups, campaign groups and noisy industries), local authorities and developers in judicial review and statutory review claims including, in particular, those related to climate change, adequate consultation, legitimate expectation, heritage, water, Habitats Regulations, EIA, SEA, air quality, s.106 obligations and conditions, interpretation of policy and adequacy of reasons. She has also appeared in a number of cases concerning the interpretation of the NPPF.
Jenny has written a number of articles on planning, rating and the council tax in both the legal and property trade press. She provides oral representation and advice, both written and in conference, on all aspects of judicial review, planning, rating and the council tax, compulsory purchase, highways and local government.
Jenny is experienced in advising and representing clients in the Senior Courts in cases relating to environmental impact assessment, habitats, air quality, water, pollution, ecology and climate change. She is well versed with issues relating to nutrient neutrality and water neutrality. Many of the High Court challenges she has undertaken involve complex scientific concepts relating to these matters.
Jenny Wigley KC has a strong practice in the field of non-domestic rating (local government tax). She regularly appears for rate payers, local authorities and the valuation officer in the Valuation Tribunal, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and the Senior Courts, including in the recent landmark Divisional Court cases concerning empty rates (Makro, Kenya Aid, Digital Pipeline, Pall Mall and Public Health England – see cases below). One of her cases was for a football club and concerned the important issue of whether relegation from the Premier League can constitute a ‘material change of circumstances’ for rating purposes. She recently represented the ratepayer in a case concerning the valuation of museums (Hughes (VO) v. Tyne & Wear Museums and Archives [2022] UKUT 206 (LC)) and she represented the Valuation Officer in the leading case concerning the valuation of tenant’s fit-out works in commercial offices (Bunyan (VO) v. Acenden Limited [2023] UKUT 17 (LC). and Hitchings v. Shoosmiths LLP [2025] UKUT 224 (LC)).
Her cases of note in this field include:
Jenny co-edited the main rating text book, Ryde on Rating and the Council Tax, for 20 years from 2003 to 2023 and she has edited the rating chapter in Atkins Court Forms and the Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents.
During her time as a solicitor, Jenny practised in the commercial and property litigation department of city firm, Stephenson Harwood, where she also had conduct of the firm’s rating practice. During that time, she worked on the law changing case of Benjamin (VO) v. Anston Properties (which led to the Government introducing the Rating (Valuation) Act 1999) and the case of Coventry & Solihull Waste Disposal Co v. Russell (VO) ([1999] 1 WLR 2093) in the House of Lords.
Jenny represents clients in public law matters relating to planning, the environment and non-domestic rating law. She is very experienced in all aspects of Judicial Review and frequently appears in the Senior Courts for claimants, defendants and interested parties. She also appears in injunction proceedings relating to protests. Recently she represented Government contractors and hotel owners in obtaining an injunction against anti asylum seeker protesters who were blocking access to a hotel.
With a strong track record of advising and representing local authorities, we offer expert legal support across a diverse range of areas and issues. Recognised for our clear, pragmatic legal guidance and strong advocacy, we are well-placed to support local government bodies in meeting complex and evolving challenges.
Landmark's barristers often work at the intersection of our core practice areas; bringing a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to bear on a particular dispute or issue facing a client.
Our focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome for our client. By viewing the client's objectives in a holistic way - and not purely through the lens of one rigidly-defined legal area - we deliver the best possible advice and representation in complex matters that engage multiple specialist areas of law.
Whether it's providing support as an individual cross-practice barrister or a cross-disciplinary team of Landmark counsel, we are able to draw on an outstanding array of complementary skillsets and knowledge bases. This often achieves a better result than instructing multiple barristers from different specialist sets. This also improves the quality of client care through increased levels of communication, quicker response times, and a coordinated approach to clerking and fees, made possible by our team-based cross-practice approach.
Please contact our practice management team for more information.
Jenny Wigley is a force to be reckoned with. She is a formidable High Court advocate."
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High Court determines challenge to the development of Chatham Docks
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