Property barristers are commonly called in to work with planning law. In fact, although barristers specializing in property are a subset of the barrister profession in general, there are also property barristers who specialize in planning. These barristers are loosely known as planning barristers.

There are famous ‘planning chambers’, such as Landmark Chambers, who employ a number of well-trained barristers who specialize in planning law. These planning chambers typically have between 10 and 20 barristers, which specialize in planning law. The higher profile the planning chamber, the more likely they have dealt with high profile cases in the past. This, in turn, usually means that the highest profile chambers will be employed to deal with the largest planning law cases in the country.

Large planning law cases that a property barrister may be called in to deal with could for example include the building or change of a football stadium or other large sporting arena. They may be required to fight the case for the developer who wants to expand. They may for example, be called to examine and make sense of the planning laws regarding nationwide or even international rail networks. Large constructions like airports require a huge deal of planning, and property barristers skilled in this type of planning law will be used to deal with it.

Not all law cases related to planning are huge though. Property barristers can appear for a client at a planning hearing or a planning enquiry, or even a parliamentary committee.

Barristers specializing in property can be employed to simply give advice, albeit expensive advice, on planning laws and how they could affect a business. Property barristers cover a wide range of laws such as those that govern how businesses effect the environment or the countryside or community. They can deal with planning appeals and give advice on how a business must deal with its waste.

Some property law covers items such as nature reserves, listed buildings and conservation zones. When new plans are made for buildings and features within or near these elements, then these laws can get very complex, and will include a healthy number of bodies who have a vested interest. Without adequate representation by a property barrister, then the project will never get off the ground, as the client will have no idea what is expected of them to keep within the law and get the permits they require to begin construction.