Anna Fouracre

With extensive experience in the Build to Rent sector, Anna advises on planning applications, appeals, and development agreements, offering strategic guidance through evolving policy and complex planning challenges.

• Advised on the acquisition and consenting process for numerous bespoke Build to Rent developers and operators – including a groundbreaking gateway into city a mixed-use scheme that incorporated build to rent homes and new grade A offices and also an innovative build to rent scheme in Hackney with affordable workspace, retail units and rooftop running track – with the scheme requiring approval by the Mayor of London.
• Negotiated the following agreements for build to rent developers and operators: section 106 planning agreements, section 278/38 highways agreements, s177 overhanging licences, section 104 drainage agreements.
• Legal audit of planning applications/EIA: conducted legal audits of planning applications and environmental statements for a number of Build to Rent developers, to minimise risk of legal challenge.
• Delivered a number of talks and hosted roundtables including UKAA Build to Rent roundtable in 2021.

Anna advises on retirement living developments, including planning applications, appeals, and site promotion, with expertise in addressing specialist housing needs, policy requirements, and community engagement strategies.

• Advised on numerous sales and purchases of care homes, assisted living developments and extra care housing.
• Specialised advice in relation to planning use classes for retirement living.
• Negotiated affordable housing position in relation to extra care developments.
• Conducted legal audits of planning applications for care home developments.
• Negotiated planning agreements required in relation to care home developments.

Anna provides specialist advice on the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO), including change of use, prior approvals, and planning use classes, guiding clients through complex and evolving regulations.

• Demolition under “GPDO” Part 11.
• Offices: Planning appeals for ‘office to residential’ change of use schemes in a number of London boroughs for developer clients.
• Scope of permitted development rights, including in relation to the scope of Part 4 “temporary buildings and use” for an events organiser and in relation to Part 14 “Renewable Energy” for a solar developer.

Anna advises on compulsory purchase orders, representing clients through negotiations, challenges, and related planning matters to secure the best outcomes in complex land acquisition processes.

• Advised landowners on compensation issues when facing compulsory acquisition for HS2.
• Advised in relation to case heard in Upper Tribunal Lands Chambers, determining a dispute relating to HS2.
• Advised one of the UK’s largest privately owned investment companies in relation to compulsory purchase of land by Highways England at one of their hotels.

Anna advises on sustainability in planning, focusing on integrating environmental policies, energy-efficiency, and sustainable development principles into planning applications and appeals to support long-term community benefits.

• Advised on planning reform and the journey to net zero and how this impacts upon stakeholders in the development process.
• Helped clients engage with new regulatory frameworks and dealt with the legal implications of changes in corporate strategies and business models.
• Speaker at UKAA’s 2021 Sustainability Summit.
• Organiser and host of series of ESG, sustainability and responsible business webinars.

Anna advises on energy-related developments, including planning applications and appeals, with expertise in navigating complex regulatory frameworks and promoting sustainable, renewable energy projects.

• Advised on consenting process for renewable energy projects including wind, solar, battery storage.
• Advised on commercial-scale solar developments for a number of solar developers, including advising a client on their first five UK solar project acquisitions.
• Planning appeals for developers (wind and solar), including two planning appeals (wind) for one of leading suppliers of renewable energy worldwide.
• Legal audit of planning applications / EIA for both solar and wind developer clients.
• Advised in relation to renewable energy proposals in the greenbelt – advised developer clients in relation to site selection and planning strategy in relation to solar projects in the greenbelt, with reference to case law and recently decided planning appeals and identifying market trends.

Anna advises on agriculture and rural affairs, including planning applications, land use changes, and policy compliance, supporting sustainable development and rural community interests.

• Advised a landowner in relation to the conversion of agricultural buildings to residential, in Kent. Advised on planning strategy and subsequently the prior approval application and supporting evidence to satisfy the legal tests set out in Class Q of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended.
• Advised the owner of a Grade 1 listed country estate in Wokingham in relation to the development of outbuildings for residential use.
• Advised a strategic land promoter in relation to a number of sites that they were promoting, including advising on planning strategy for securing planning on a number of pieces of agricultural land for housing development across the regions and managing a number of planning appeals.
• Advised a client in relation to compliance and enforcement matters relating to a neighbouring turkey farm.
• Advised a major logistics developer in relation to securing planning for storage and distribution buildings and ancillary offices, which involved farm land and the demolition of a listed farmhouse.

Anna advises on property development, including housing and commercial projects, listed buildings and heritage assets, planning applications and appeals, and planning and infrastructure agreements.

• Advised on numerous housing applications and appeals for PLC housebuilders and developers including advising a consortium of three major housebuilders on their planning application to build over 700 homes on an old hospital site, with numerous parts of the property having listed status.
• Apportionment of liability agreements: negotiating agreements between landowners and buyers and sellers apportioning responsibilities and liabilities under planning consents and planning obligations, including agreements for major housebuilders.
• Legal audits of planning application/EIA: reviewed planning applications and environmental statements for housebuilders and developers, including in relation to conjoined developments and developments in the greenbelt.
• Obtained lawful development certificates: assisted developers to obtain lawful development certificates for existing or proposed uses, including in relation to two central London sites for a major food retailer.
• Advised on mixed-use and commercial developments including consenting process and planning appeals.
• Negotiated section 106 and section 278/38 agreements, including schemes requiring Mayor of London approval.
• Due diligence for housing and commercial sales and purchases: conducted due diligence for housebuilders and commercial developers in relation to sales and purchases, including sites located in areas of archaeological importance and large mixed-use, phased schemes.
• Advised a Build to Rent developer on their first shared ownership portfolio acquisition including complex advice around affordable recycling obligations and negotiating deeds of variations to section 106 agreements to vary the affordable provisions to ensure the purchaser could comply with the s106 obligations.
• Advised in relation regeneration of town centres including acting for Swindon Council on their £33 million town regeneration scheme.

Recognised by The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner for Planning 2020–2026

Recognised in The Legal 500 2020-2024 for Planning