We acted for a major development company which was being prosecuted for unlawfully felling trees subject to a tree preservation order. We were able to successfully make representations to the Planning Authority to persuade them to withdraw the prosecution and to substitute a caution. We then made a successful application to the court for payment of thousands of pounds in defence legal costs from public funds.
A developer was prosecuted for their demolition of a listed farmhouse. We negotiated on a satisfactory basis a guilty plea with the prosecution so that (i) modest penalties were imposed by the court and (ii) good relations with the planning authority were preserved in order that the development could proceed by agreement and with the cooperation of the authority to the considerable profit of the client.
We acted for the planning authority in the prosecution of a large development company for breach of caravan site licence conditions in their major redevelopment of a large caravan site. We have invaluable insight in our defence work as a result of prosecuting work on behalf of local authorities.