Richard Kimblin QC

Barrister, No5 Chambers


Richard Kimblin QC is described in the Legal 500 as a ‘Tier 1’ silk: “An exceptional talent with a formidable intellect.” He was appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown (London C, B and A Panels), advising on and appearing on many issues and cases which are now leading cases in their area. In 2016/17 he completed 12 cases in the Court of Appeal, and one in the Supreme Court, for defendants, claimants and interested parties. He was elected Council Member and Chair of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association.

His practice focuses upon:

(i) Planning appeals in England and Wales, principally in respect of residential schemes of significant size, and where technical and environmental issues are in play. He knows the Welsh jurisdiction very well. Recently, he has appeared at lengthy Inquiries for residential and infrastructure proposals from Stockton-on-Tees to Redruth, from Pembroke to Cardiff to Norfolk. He has been instructed in cases both for and against the Mayor of London. His clients include the national house builders, some of the main supermarkets and major minerals and waste operators;

(ii) Planning, environmental and CPO litigation. His work in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court is regular, very frequent and concerned with the full range of key issues which affect planning and environmental law, eg.: Green BeltRedhill Aerodrome, Turner, Timmins; Operation of S38(6) & NPPFBarwood Land and Estates; BDW; Daventry DC; Policy issues: Watermead PC (flood risk, Footnote 9); Cotswold DC (5YLS); Wealden (AONB); Save Britain’s Heritage (Heritage; Outstanding Universal Value); CompensationBloor v HCA; DCOs – Gate; Environmental liabilitySeiont Anglers; Planning enforcement Coles (on PEOs), Challinor, Allsop;

(iii) Infrastructure projects, from gas storage to highways and via all of the available consenting regimes.