Law firm Ward Hadaway has strengthened its planning team in Leeds with the appointment of a new Partner, together with an associate lawyer and an experienced planning technician.

James Garbett, Matthew Hills and Kevin Sanderson have joined the firm’s planning team in Leeds, part of its Built Environment Group, collectively bringing almost 40 years’ experience between them.

James has joined the firm as a Partner and is responsible for leading the planning team across the Yorkshire and North West regions. He advises on all aspects of Town and Country Planning law including advising on planning application, appeal, and overall consenting strategies, and on the drafting and negotiation of planning obligations and related agreements.

He acts on behalf of a wide range of clients including national and regional housebuilders, registered providers, Build-to-Rent operators, landowners & land promoters, funders & investors, and local authorities/ other public sector bodies.

Matthew joins as an Associate in the planning team and specialises in all areas of contentious and non-contentious planning law. He joins the firm from a large Local Planning Authority and has a wealth of experience in local authority decision-making processes, with respect to not only legal duties and principles but to local and national planning policy and relevant case law. He also has experience in dealing with planning appeals.

He acts for a variety of clients in drafting and negotiating planning obligations, alongside advising on permitted development, development management and planning enforcement matters.

Also joining James and Matthew is Kevin Sanderson, who has relocated from the firm’s Newcastle office. Kevin has worked at Ward Hadaway for 15 years and is an experienced Planning Technician.

All three will be based out of the firm's Wellington Place office in the business quarter of the city.