Colin has been involved in compulsory purchase and compensation work throughout his career which began in the District Valuers in 1972. 

His major infrastructure projects work started with the parts of the motorway network, then CTRL (HS1), followed by The Olympic Park, Heathrow Expansion and HS2.

He joined CBRE in 2006 as the Head of Compulsory Purchase and Compensation team where he now works as a strategic adviser / expert witness acting on behalf of both acquiring authorities and claimants.

He has appeared at the Lands Tribunal and The High Court on several leading cases including

• Christos v Sec of State for Transport 2002
• Snooks v Somerset CC 2005
• IOD Skiphire/Welford v EdF 2005
• Bocardo v Star Energy 2010
• AWE v National Grid 2013
• Halpern and Others ‘Clearun’ v GLA 2013
• EM Watts v Government of The British Virgin Islands 2014.

Public Inquiry and DCO work has included for United Utilities the Eccles Manchester Ship Canal discharge CPO 2018 and for RSP (the promoter) Manston Airport DCO 2019.  

He has been a frequent contributor on Compulsory Purchase and Compensation at many conferences and seminars in the UK the USA and Canada and is an occasional contributor to The Estates Gazette, IRWA Magazine and other publications.

He was Chairman of the Compulsory Purchase Association in 2007/08, Honorary Secretary 2009/2013 and in 2014 was awarded Honorary Membership.

He is currently a member of the IRWA ‘International Relations Committee’