Rupert Warren KC

Call: 1994

Silk: 2012

Rupert Warren KC is the head of Landmark Chambers’ Planning Group.

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Planning

Cross-practice

Planning

Rupert is a leading specialist in planning and related areas of public law. Rupert was called to the Bar in 1994 and took silk in 2012. He is rated in Band 1 in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

Rupert acts for many leading developers, landowners, promoters and investors, as well as central Government, local authorities and individuals. He has particular expertise in the High Court and Court of Appeal, complex advisory work and advocacy in major planning appeals.

Residential development continues to form a core part of Rupert’s practice, including in the promotion of new settlements (in Essex, Kent, Hampshire and West Sussex), major urban extensions through Local Plans and applications (in Kent, Durham, Cambridge, Bristol, Oxford and around London). He continues to advise on residential-led development particularly in London, as well as residential projects across the country. These include major town centre schemes in central Manchester, Reading, Kingston and Guildford. Design, heritage, water/nutrient neutrality, BNG and carbon feature heavily in these projects.

For many years Rupert has advised and represented the market leaders in the field of retirement and later years residential development, including McCarthy Stone, Life Story, Inspired Villages, BUPA, Minton and Guild Living/L&G. In London he successfully challenged part of the Mayor’s residential SPG on behalf of the sector as well as leading on its London Plan representations.

Rupert advised government for some years in relation to the Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge Arc and continues to be involved in many projects across that area, including North Cambridge, extensions to the north and south of Oxford, infrastructure-related residential and mixed-use schemes from Buckinghamshire to Norfolk

In London, Rupert is recognised as a leader in the field of complex mixed use development projects, often featuring tall buildings and heritage context as well as commercial/mixed uses. Over the last few years his caseload in London has been heavy, including representing Mitsubishi Estate in the called-in inquiry into the redevelopment of the ITV site on the South Bank, the called-in Berkeley/St Edward’s re-development of the Tesco/Homebase sites in Hounslow and the appeal consent for residential development opposite Hampton Court (Jolly Boatman site). He advised and represented the City of London on its Salisbury Square Fleet Street project, currently under construction, Canary Wharf Group on Isle of Dogs proposals and advised on the consents (including through appeal) at Glengal Quay and Crossharbour District Centre.

Rupert is also expert in retail, commercial, Life Sciences/R&D, logistics and data centre development. Over the last few years, he has advised and represented major online retailers, strategic logistics developers/stakeholders such as SEGRO, IM Properties and Prologis, and data centres developers (including major applications and appeals both east and west of London, in the Thames Valley corridor). He is working on appeals and applications in both Oxford and Cambridge involving substantial provision of Life Science floorspace and offices. His experience embraces DCO work (for instance advising and representing government on the Hinkley Point C new nuclear proposal), railfreight proposals, road schemes, and town centre CPOs (he was involved in the schemes now known as Grand Arcade, Cambridge, Bath Southgate and Cabot Circus Bristol).

Rupert advised the Coalition Government on the first NPPF in 2011-12, its successor on the major revision in 2017-18, and the current Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the latest revisions to the NPPF in 2024 and NDMPs. He advised on the PD changes in 2020-21 and successfully defended the legislative changes in the Court. As a result, he has a particular expertise in national policy formulation, interpretation and legal challenge. 

Cross-practice

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.

Energy

Highways and Rights of Access

Specialisms

Commercial/Retail

Compulsory Purchase and Compensation

Development Consent Orders

Development Contracts and Overage

Development Contribution: Section 106 and CIL

Development Plans and other planning policy

Energy

Environment

Green Belt

Heritage

Highways, Footpaths and Rights of Way

Infrastructure

Minerals and Waste

Neighbourhood Planning

Planning Appeals, Inquiries and Hearings

Planning Enforcement and Injunctions

Planning Judicial and Statutory Reviews

Residential

Transport Orders and Parliamentary Bills

Specialisms

Energy

Highways and Rights of Access

"
“…a go-to for complex London developments, high density residential and heritage issue.” “ an instinctive understanding of the planning system”."

Planning Magazine Legal Survey

Firm Logo 3 UK Leading silk 2025 The Planning Law Survey 2024

Qualifications and achievements

Qualifications

  • Scholar at Whitgift School and the Marjoribanks Scholar in Classics at Christ Church, Oxford.
  • He obtained a First Class Honours degree there in 1992.
  • Diploma in Law from City University.
  • Called to the Bar as a Karmel Scholar by Gray’s Inn in 1994.

Memberships

  • Committee of the Joint Planning Law Conference
  • Planning and Environmental Bar Association (past Committee member)

Recommendations

Practice Managers

Contact our friendly and helpful Practice Managers for more information about our barristers and services or to make an enquiry.

Michael Gooch new

Michael Gooch

Senior Practice Manager

020 7421 1305

Jonathan Barley new

Jonathan Barley

Practice Manager

020 7421 2480

Noel Pudney new

Noel Pudney

Assistant Practice Manager

020 7421 1398

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