I am a Consultant and former Partner in the development team at Gerald Eve, based in the West End, and a member and former head of the firm’s specialist Compulsory Purchase and Compensation team.
I have over 40 years’ experience and am responsible for advising on a wide range of valuation and other professional work but specialise in advising landowners and occupiers, acquiring authorities and developers on all aspects of compulsory purchase and compensation.
My experience is in providing a wide range of valuation and other professional advice but with particular emphasis on compulsory purchase and compensation, advising landowners, occupiers, acquiring authorities and developers on this complex area of development-related advice.
The work I and the team undertake in this field includes the negotiation of purchases by agreement in advance of compulsory acquisition, providing strategic and technical advice on the compulsory purchase process, preparing, negotiating and settling claims for compensation on behalf of claimants in respect of a wide variety of properties and negotiating claims on behalf of acquiring authorities. I and the team also provide specialist advice on the assessment of payments for acquisition of rights under the ‘Electronic Communications Code’ – introduced by the Digital Economy Act 2017 – and on compensation for electricity pylons and overhead lines.
I am a past chairman of the RICS Compulsory Purchase and Compensation Panel, a member of the Compulsory Purchase Association, and have been part of various Government working parties and steering groups looking into improvements to compulsory purchase and compensation legislation. I also regularly speak at seminars for surveyors and other professionals.
My current and recent clients range from major landowners, investors and occupiers such as Jewson, William Hill, GLH Hotels (Thistle), Royal London UK Real Estate Fund, Signet Group and Premier Inn to acquiring authorities or developers such as Cheshire East Council, Surrey County Council, St Modwen, Redrow Homes and Barratt. Having experience of working on both sides of the process is vital in being able to provide balanced and objective advice to my clients. Electronic Communications Code clients include Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited and Vodafone.
Recent Projects
Recent projects have included preparing, negotiating, and settling claims for compensation for freehold and leasehold property interests and businesses in London acquired for HS2; these have included a Central London hotel, a specialist storage and distribution operation and a multi-storey building comprising studio units. I am also currently advising a major landowner and two national developers in connection with the proposed Lower Thames Crossing scheme and have recently negotiated and settled compensation, on behalf of the developer, under Part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 in relation to schemes including a new spine road and a new bypass in Hampshire and West Sussex.
I act as an expert witness for both landowner and developer / acquiring authority clients and I have experience of giving evidence at hearings of the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), the High Court and the County Court.
