Rupert Warren KC

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.