Preparing for Public Inquiries - Leeds

Richard Wood is a chartered and independent planning consultant with over 35 years of experience in planning. In 2016, he founded Richard Wood Associates. He works both independently and in partnership, collaborating with other consultancies. Richard’s diverse career spans the private sector, senior roles in local government (including as a chief officer) and work with regional partnership bodies. This wide ranging experience gives Richard a well-rounded and balanced perspective on planning and development. He has acted as an expert witness at planning appeal inquiries and hearings for North Yorkshire, East Riding, Chorley, Harrogate, Selby, South Ribble, Wakefield and York Councils. The appeals have included housing, employment, hotel, solar farm, battery storage, and crematorium  uses and have involved locations with Green Belt, World Heritage Site, and Conservation Area issues. Richard has also provided and combined advocate and witness services for a Town Council. He has held different roles with Yorkshire RTPI, including his current role as policy advisor, and is also a member of the TCPA Policy Council.

David is a Partner in Shoosmiths Planning Team. He is an experienced specialist in planning law with over a decade of experience advising both public and private sector clients. He has particular expertise in managing the assembly of sites for infrastructure and regeneration projects, leading multi-disciplinary teams through all stages of planning and infrastructure consents processes including public inquiries. He is a member of the Compulsory Purchase Association and sits on the CPO Procedural Reform panel currently responsible for reporting to the Law Commission. David has been a ranked lawyer in Chambers and Legal 500 for the past 5 years. 

Amelia (YOC 2024) is currently in the second six of a specialist planning law pupillage at Kings. Amelia’s first six was supervised by Philip Robson. During the first six, Amelia saw and completed work involving public inquiries and hearings, judicial review proceedings, appeals, and enforcement actions. Amelia commenced her second six in early March and is supervised by Stephanie Hall.

Prior to joining Chambers, Amelia studied Geography at the University of Cambridge, focusing latterly on Urban and Political Geography. Amelia undertook a range of pro bono and volunteering work alongside her studies, with a particular interest in community development and human rights.

Shemuel (YOC 2021) practises in all areas of administrative and public law, with particular expertise in planning, local government, licensing, and regulatory law. He represents both developers and local authorities and has extensive experience in public inquiries and hearings, judicial review proceedings, enforcement appeals, and local authority prosecutions. Shem also frequently acts in licensing appeals, representing both applicants and licensing authorities. 

Shem is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel, is direct access qualified, and is committed to Advocate’s Pro Bono Pledge. Recognised by The Legal 500 as a “Rising Star,” which states: “Shemuel is an exceptional advocate. He is patient and a good reader of his audience.” Before joining Chambers, Shem completed a master’s degree specialising in judicial review. 

Elana Kaymer practises across all areas of administrative and public law, with a particular focus on planning, highways, licensing and local government.

Her clients include local authorities and developers at all stages of the planning process. She has advised on and appeared in public inquiries, judicial review proceedings, appeals and enforcement actions including local authority prosecutions and injunctions involving the gypsy and traveller communities.

Elana successfully completed a specialist planning and public law pupillage at Kings under the supervision of John Hunter and Philip Robson. Prior to joining Chambers, Elana worked at LexisNexis where she tracked legal developments in areas including energy and environmental law and as a paralegal for a specialist immigration law chambers, with work often involving human rights matters.

Phillip Ware has been a Planning Inspector for more years than he is prepared to admit.  Before that he worked in the public and private sectors before gravitating to the Inspectorate.  He runs a team of very experienced Inspectors who mainly deal with inquiries related to major and complex proposals.  They also cover CPO inquiries and work under other legislation.  He has run a number of training courses for newer Inspectors. 

Alyn established his consultancy practice in 1990. Alyn has been involved in a wide range of private and public sector work throughout Yorkshire, the North West and beyond. Clients have included Land Securities, the National Trust, John Lewis and Waitrose and Barnardo’s. He has also advised local authorities on matters relating to town centres and retail development. Alyn has been appointed an “Expert” by the Government’s High Streets Task Force. He has extensive experience of public inquires, hearings and examinations acting for appellants, third parties and local authorities. In his spare time Alyn enjoys time with his wife ambling in the Lake District, attending cricket matches and the delights of older motor cars. Over the past 25 years he has been learning to play the piano accordion, unsuccessfully, and he is a professional model maker. He also aspires to be paper free.