Lee Gordon

Position: Solicitor

SUMMARY PROFILE

Lee is an Assistant Solicitor in the Leeds office specialising in all aspects of planning and related law. Lee also has a particular interest and expertise in local government and administrative law.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Specialising in planning, local government and administrative law, acting for both the public and private sector, with particular expertise in the following:

Infrastructure Agreements (including s.106 and highways agreements).

Compulsory Purchase Orders - promoting CPO's including advising on procedures, human rights issues. Objecting to CPO's for retail and transport clients and advising on compensation claims, injurious affection and nuisance.

Mines and Minerals industry - advising on the re-activation of old minerals permissions.

Judicial Review - defending challenges brought by third parties in both the High Court and Court of Appeal. Advising on procedures, merits and legal issues.

Environmental Impact Assessment - advising both local authorities and developers as to the need for an ES, EIA specific legal points, Habitats Regulations and reviewing environmental statements for significant projects.

Enforcement - acting for both local authorities and land owners.

Housing Industry - promotion of schemes to inquiry, advising on merits, policy issues and specific affordable housing points.

MAJOR TRANSACTIONS

Acting for National Air Traffic Services in connection with its objections to the Steadings, Ray, and Green Rigg wind farm proposals in Northumberland due to predicted impacts to its radar and air traffic control operations. Included advice and attendance at the lengthy co-joined public inquiry.

Defending statutory review proceedings brought by third party objectors to the Ffos-y-Fran Land Reclamation Scheme which is to include one of the largest open cast coal mining schemes in Europe. Resisting challenge by third party objectors brought in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Advising on procedure, merits and various legal issues including; post inquiry representations, bias, EIA issues, need for buffer zones, air quality, injunctions, challenges to legal aid, administrative law principles, Freedom of Information Act.

Advising Aggregate Industries in respect of significant old minerals permissions in Northumberland. Advice given in respect of prospects of being able to re-start quarrying activities, strategic advice and reviewing environmental statement.

Acting for a private developer in connection with its proposed £15 million bio-diesel plant. Advice included review of an environmental statement, advice on Habitats Regulations and other legal points arising.

Advising Rotherham Borough Council on the proposed Westgate Demonstrator project (mixed housing, office and retail scheme in town centre). Advising on CPO procedure including human rights considerations.

Advising Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council on the planning aspects to the FARRRS scheme (proposed new link road to Robin Hood Airport involving compulsory purchase). Included detailed advice on EIA Regulations and their applicability to an alternative road scheme.
Acting for Q Hotels in connection with the refurbishment of Norton Manor Hotel - general planning advice and lengthy s.106 agreement. Project involved listed building consents, green travel plan, bond, index linked developer contributions to infrastructure, phased scheme of works, extant planning permission.

Advising West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive in connection with new rail halt proposals, extension of bus routes and other public transport infrastructure in Leeds and developer contributions.

Acting for Tapton Estates in connection with housing appeal in Derbyshire.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Sept 2005 - present date Solicitor in Planning Team at DLA Piper
Sept 2003 - Sept 2005 Trainee Solicitor at DLA Piper

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Law Society