Russell Harris KC

Planning

Russell advised on the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and is advising on Bishopsgate Goods Yard, the largest remaining City redevelopment site. He continues to advise on football stadia for Spurs, Fulham, Luton, and Brentford. He is promoting with Pinsent Mason, the large-scale housing redevelopment of the Elephant and Castle and has acted on the plans to remodel Shepherd’s Bush and Earls Court, two of London’s largest Opportunity Areas. He worked on the development of the Westfield Centre in West London and the new shopping centre also at Elephant and Castle.

In Wales, he has successfully gained permission for the Circuit of Wales and is acting for National Grid on several critically important NSIPs.

Russell has appeared in almost all of the recent Tall Building inquiries and has developed a special expertise in presenting cases involving world-class architects and architecture. Thus, Russell has successfully acted for the developers of “The Shards of Glass” by Renzo Piano, the Heron Tower, by Lee Polisano, The Minerva Tower by Nicolas Grimshaw, 20 Fenchurch Street by Rafael Vinoly, The Beetham Tower Blackfriars by Ian Simpson, Founder’s Place by Sir Terry Farrell and Vauxhall Towers site by Michael Squires. He also acted on the development of the Gherkin which did not need an Inquiry.

Russell continues to advise Herbert Smith Freehills on Rem Koolhaus’ plans for the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington and on Foster and Partners proposals at Bishop’s Place on the fringes of the City of London. He is promoting for Ashurst, a 42-storey mixed-use development for Foster and Partners in Islington and the Chris Wilkinson and Richard Horden proposals presently on site on the Embankment.

On the South Bank, he is promoting the large David Chipperfield design at Elizabeth House and in Kensington he is promoting the redevelopment of South Kensington Station with Rogers Stirk Harbour. In Westminster, he is promoting the new Marks & Spencers at Marble Arch with Fred Pilbrow.

Russell is leading counsel advising the All England Tennis Club on its application to extend Wimbledon to become a world-class sporting location with a new show court and enhanced public facilities.

Russell gained planning permission for the new Ryder Cup course In Bolton in 2020 alongside 1000 houses in the Green Belt. He also promoted the enhanced golf course and Ryder cup Village in 2022.

In March 2009, Russell was re-appointed as Counsel to the London Plan (Spatial Development Strategy for London) by Mayor Johnson, he has since advised Mayor Khan on parts of the new London Plan 2019 meaning that he has promoted or been involved in every single plan, alteration and review since the creation of the London Mayor and Greater London Authority.

He is also continuing to advise on the redevelopment of Chelsea Barracks and Brent Cross.

Russel has been selected as Planning Silk of the year a number of times: most recently at the October 2022 Legal 500 UK Bar Awards.

The latest Planning Magazine law survey ranks Russell as one of the top planning silks in the country, and as a leading silk for residential, and commercial & retail. He is described as “the king of complex and contentious tall building schemes in central London.” Previous surveys describe him as having “carved out ‘a second-to-none reputation’ when dealing with major controversial schemes in London“, and as a “phenomenal advocate” who is “good on his feet on the day”.

Environment

Russell piloted several renewable energy and high voltage electric line projects through the NSIP process. He is also, with Robin Purchas KC and Michael Humphries KC, advising National Grid on the general approach to be taken to major national infrastructure projects.

Russell was named as Silk of the Year for Environment/Planning at the 2008 Chambers Bar Awards and again short listed as Silk of the Year in 2013. He was described in Legal 500 for Environment as A “very highly respected, and a strong performer.” .