Keating Chambers

Charlie Banner (Lord Banner KC), alongside a team of experts, successfully represented Persimmon Homes in a significant decision made by the Planning Inspectorate on 18 March 2025. The appeal against North Somerset Council's non-determination of a planning application for up to 190 homes at Yatton was allowed, despite failing the flood risk sequential test. The Inspector highlighted several reasons for granting permission, including the housing shortfall and the need for sites in flood risk areas. This decision is expected to be of great interest to the planning and development sector.   A copy of the judgment is available on our website: https://lnkd.in/eYYNxRCK

On Thursday 3 April Samuel Townend KC will be speaking at the' Midlands Half Day CPD: JCT 24 & the Building Safety Act One Year On' in Birmingham.   Sam will be speaking on Session 1: JCT Contracts - 2024 Revisions and Amendments. This panel discussion will provide an overview of the 2024 revisions and amendments to the JCT Contracts, focusing on the key updates and their implications.   You can register to sign up on the The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) website: https://lnkd.in/eVHTu3ZP

Keating Chambers is delighted to host the Keating Construction Conference on 26 March to celebrate the 12th edition of the seminal text, Keating on Construction Contracts.   Mrs Justice Jefford, Jonathan Selby KC, Alexandra Bodnar, Charles Thompson and Harry Smith will share their experiences and insights on the Building Safety Act (BSA), focusing on key topics such as Building Liability Orders, product liability claims and remediation contribution orders, and considering what the future might hold.   The conference is currently sold out, but please click here to join the waitlist as places may become available: https://lnkd.in/ea4FbHE8

Hugely important decision on flood risk & planning post-Mead from the Planning Inspectorate this morning, allowing Persimmon Homes' appeal against North Somerset Council's non-determination of an application for planning permission for up to 190 homes at Yatton - following a lengthy and vigorously contested planning inquiry. Although the flood risk sequential test was failed, the appeal was allowed and planning permission granted. The Inspector noted that the judgment in Mead made clear that failure to comply with the sequential test is not necessarily fatal; and he went on to hold that there were a number of reasons (see paras. 174-195 of the decision) which told in favour of granting planning permission here, including the extent of the housing shortfall, the need for some sites in areas of flood risk to come forward meet housing needs, that the proposed homes would not be at risk of flooding (only the access), that it would not increase flood risk on adjoining land, and that it is not a site at risk of sudden inundation (it would take 42 hours from first high tide to flood in the design storm event of 1 in 200 years post 2080). After a succession of appeal decisions rejecting development in otherwise sustainable locations on flood risk grounds, this decision will be of immense interest to the planning and development sector. I acted for Persimmon Homes at the inquiry, alongside experts Kathryn Ventham & Caroline Featherston (Stantec, sequential test and planning), Nick Paterson-Neild (Stantec, housing land supply), Simon Mirams (Rappor flood risk), David Parker (PIONEER PLANNING SERVICES LIMITED affordable housing), Nigel Jones (Chesters Harcourt, availability of alternative sites), and Chris Charlton (Clarke Willmott, planning obligations) - all supported by many other excellent professionals. Keating Chambers Have We Got Planning News For You #planning #housing #floodrisk #environment

On Tuesday 25 March Fionnuala McCredie K.C. will be speaking at the RICS-hosted event 'Exploring ADR Options in Construction Disputes' during Conflict Avoidance Week. Fionnuala will be joined by Matt Molloy (MCMS), Jonathan Cope (MCMS), Jonathan Pawlowski (Howard Kennedy) and Kim Franklin KC (Crown Office Chambers).   The panel will share their insights on the pros and cons of different ADR mechanisms, offering practical perspectives and real-world experiences.    The event will be held in-person at the RICS Offices in London from 17:30-19:30.   Please click the following link to register: https://lnkd.in/eJGRkSbf

To celebrate the 12th edition of the seminal text, Keating on Construction Contracts, Keating Chambers is delighted to host the Keating Construction Conference on 26 March. In this session, Veronique Buehrlen KC, Tom Owen KC, Mercy Milgo, Youcef Boussabaine and Steven Williams (CMS) will discuss the merits of various dispute resolution processes. From litigation to arbitration and various forms of ADR, they will explore which method stands out in effectively resolving construction disputes.   The conference is currently sold out, but please click here to join the waitlist as places may become available: https://lnkd.in/ea4FbHE8

We are delighted to congratulate Antonieta Alvarez, the recipient of the Keating Chambers Scholarship in association with the scholarship programme at Gray's Inn.   The Keating Chambers Scholarship supports Bar Course students from backgrounds under-represented at the Bar and was first launched in September 2022. Antonieta is our third scholar through this scheme. https://lnkd.in/ekexEdMj

To celebrate the release of the 12th edition of the seminal text, Keating on Construction Contracts, we are delighted to host the Keating Construction Conference in London on 26 March.   Vincent Moran KC, Lucy Garrett KC, Sarah Williams and Yolanda Walker (DWF) will share their knowledge and experience to discuss some thorny contractual issues, tackling the complexities of limitations on liability and notices.   The conference is currently sold out, but please click here to join the waitlist as places may become available: https://lnkd.in/ea4FbHE8

On Thursday 20 March Abdul Jinadu will be appearing as the DAB chair on 'Gladiators v The State- They will have their vengeance in this DAB or the next: A mock Dispute Adjudication Board'. He will guide the parties towards resolving a dispute arising out of a JCT 2024 contract, concerning archaeological finds, disruption, wind turbines, an absence of good faith and the kitchen sink, using the JCT Dispute Adjudication Board procedure (DAB 2024).   The event will be held in person at Turner & Townsend’s offices in London.   To reserve a place for yourself and a guest please contact advisoryadminlondon@turntown.com

We are pleased to announce that Samuel Townend KC, the former Chair of the Bar, is tonight awarding the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the LexisNexis Legal Awards at London’s Park Plaza Riverbank hotel. Sam was one of the judging panel deciding upon the nominees and winners. The full shortlist is available here: https://lnkd.in/eaWTmt4E