Richard Adams

Richard Adams practices planning law and has more than 20 years of experience representing clients on a range of planning and planning enforcement matters. He has extensive experience with planning agreements, including affordable housing obligations, and assessing planning situations for proposed purchases by clients. Richard also advises on highways law, including the stopping-up of highways in development scenarios. In addition, he handles compulsory purchase and judicial review matters.

Richard represents clients such as Greystar and Delancey. He advised Greystar in successfully procuring planning permission for more than 2,000 new homes to regenerate the site of the former Glaxo factory in Greenford, London. He also advised Greystar on their residential towers at Essex House, Croydon.

Between 2004 and 2006, Richard was involved in advising on planning issues at Coventry Airport, particularly with the proposed development of a passenger terminal for two million passengers annually, which was the subject of two major public inquiries, including the longest planning enforcement appeal in history.

Richard acted for Delancey (as developer) in promoting the Elephant & Castle town centre compulsory purchase order (CPO) in central London. The CPO was confirmed in January 2025 following a public inquiry. The CPO ensures this major regeneration project of almost 1,000 homes can be completed.

Richard recently advised on a successful judicial review action against the Secretary of State in connection with a caravan site in the New Forest National Park. He is currently advising on a judicial review claim to quash the revocation of a certificate of lawfulness at the same site.