Richard Max

Richard advises commercial property clients on planning matters, including planning applications, appeals, planning due diligence, Section 106 and Section 278 agreements, and strategic advice on complex redevelopment proposals across offices, hospitals, theatres, and mixed-use estates. 

• Acted for Shell UK in connection with the redevelopment of its facilities at Shellhaven for a new port. 

• Represented Delancey PLC at a public inquiry for the redevelopment of a major office building in Portman Square and dealt with a Section 106 Agreement for a new school in Bryanston Square. 

• Acted for Nimax Theatres in connection with a high-profile proposal to rig a ceiling screen at the listed Palace Theatre, W1. 

• Reviewed a complex proposal for the redevelopment of a significant office building in St James’s Square, SW1, on behalf of a Hong Kong investor. 

Richard advises residential developers on planning matters, including Section 106 negotiations, judicial review claims, planning due diligence, and strategic advice for large-scale and high-value mixed-use and residential redevelopment schemes. 

• Drafted and negotiated Section 106 Agreements on behalf of Heron International for two high-rise residential towers in Marylebone and Victoria. 

• Acted for Capital and Provident for the redevelopment of Peruvian Wharf in Newham for 1600 residential units. 

• Acted for British Land on a major mixed-use redevelopment (800 residential units) at Canada Water. 

• Conducted planning due diligence on the purchase of a significant site forming part of the Battersea Power Station redevelopment on behalf of a foreign investor. 

Richard advises on compulsory purchase and compensation, representing businesses and landowners in CPO claims, safeguarding matters and Land and Works Agreements connected with major transport and infrastructure projects. He also deals with stopping–up matters. 

• Acted for Banham Security in connection with the threatened CPO of its headquarters building by TfL as part of the Northern Line Extension project and negotiation of a complex Land and Works Agreement securing compensation on favourable terms. 

• Represented ACE Electrical Distributors in a landmark Upper Tribunal CPO claim in connection with the Greenwich Peninsular, now the O2 Centre. 

• Represented Builder Depot when its Southgate Site was safeguarded in connection with the Crossrail 2 project. 

• Made a stopping-up application in connection with a shopping centre owned by Great Portland Estates and subsequently successfully represented the client as solicitor-advocate at the stopping-up inquiry.  

Richard advises on all aspects of planning law, including enforcement, CIL, Permitted Development Rights, heritage, judicial review, planning objections, advertisements and Development Consent Orders, and regularly appears as advocate at planning inquiries, hearings, and committee meetings

• Represented the Royal Horticultural Society in its objections to the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley Interchange improvement Development Control Order (including appearing as solicitor advocate at the CPO sessions) that impacted its gardens at RHS Wisley, Surrey. 

• Dealt with threatened enforcement action concerning unauthorised works to a Grade 1 listed building in Church Row Hampstead, NW3. 

• Acted on behalf of Somerfield Stores as solicitor-advocate on numerous occasions, seeking to protect the town-centre stores from out-of-centre development. 

• Represented North-West Thames Regional Health Authority as solicitor-advocate at the St Albans Local Plan Inquiry. 

• Acted for Ocubis Limited at  judicial review proceedings concerning an illuminated advertisement for a prominent site on Putney Bridge Approach, SW6. 

• Acted for various advertising companies (including Streetvox and Wildstone) on high-profile sites in Piccadilly Circus and on the A40 Western Avenue. 

• Drafted and negotiated Section 278 Agreements and adoption agreements for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club at its Training Centre in Enfield. 

• Defended various clients at the Magistrates’ Court in connection with enforcement proceedings and representing them at interviews under caution.  

Richard specialises in planning judicial reviews and statutory challenges in the Planning Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. He also conducts CPO valuation cases in the Upper Tribunal. 

• Acted for Summer Events Limited in connection with Brockwell Park Live 2025. 

• Represented Tottenham Hotspur in connection with its bid to build a Women’s Training Facility in Enfield. 

• Acted for ACE Electrical Distributors in the Upper Tribunal.

Richard advises on agricultural and rural planning matters, pipeline and wayleave matters, major agricultural developments, and heritage issues affecting rural landowners as well as advising on the impact of proposed infrastructure projects. 

• Represented the Royal Horticultural Society opposing a DCO affecting its headquarters in Wisley. 

• Advised a property developer on the redevelopment of agricultural buildings for residential use in the Green Belt in Bedfordshire.  

• Opposed public rights of way claims over the prospective site for Tottenham Hotspur’s Training Ground in the Green Belt. 

• Dealt with wayleaves affecting a significant agricultural estate in Hertfordshire. 

• Obtained a CLEUD for a boathouse for a private client in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Site of Special Scientific Interest. 

• Advised Dairy Crest on the successful challenge to a Tree Preservation Order. 

Richard advises charities and non-profit organisations on planning matters, including the redevelopment of educational premises, residential schemes, and disposals of landmark properties and estates across London and throughout England and Wales. 

• Acted for the Royal Marsden Hospital in connection with the redevelopment of its estate in Chelsea SW3. 

• Dealt with the due diligence on the proposed letting of a floor in the Shard to a national charity. 

• Undertook an application for an Asset of Community Value on behalf of a theatrical charity. 

• Advised the Royal Horticultural Society in connection with the implications of a DCO affecting its headquarters at Wisley. 

• Represented the Holocaust Memorial Trust in the High Court when its consent was judicially reviewed. 

• Acted for a residents group in Bath opposing a low traffic network and associated Traffic Orders. 

Richard advises educational institutions on planning matters, as well as those opposing the redevelopment of school and higher education estates (including listed buildings). 

• Acted on behalf of St Paul’s School London in connection with its redevelopment strategy. 

• Lodged major objections to a proposed hotel scheme in Penn, Hertfordshire, on behalf of a high-net-worth individual, achieving significant amendments to the scheme. 

• Negotiated a complex Section 106 Agreement for a major housing proposal which included the provision of a new secondary school in Kent. 

• Acted for high-net-worth individuals opposing the extension of a boys’ preparatory school in Richmond. 

• Dealt with the proposed change of use from offices to student accommodation in Central London for developer clients. 

Richard advises professional football clubs on stadium and training ground projects, Green Belt developments, compulsory purchase matters, and judicial review proceedings, drawing on extensive experience of major sporting infrastructure schemes. 

• Acted for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in connection with the redevelopment of its existing stadium in Tottenham and the development of a new training ground in the Green Belt in Enfield. 

• Acted for Fulham FC on the redevelopment of its training ground. 

• Represented Millwall FC which was seeking to redevelop its stadium and was threatened with a CPO of surrounding land. 

• Advised on the relocation of Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes football team to a new stadium requiring planning permission. 

• Acted for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in connection with its application for a new Women’s Training Facility in the Green Belt in Enfield including an associated judicial review claim. 

Richard advises hotel, hospitality and leisure sector operators on planning, projects, Green Belt developments, compulsory purchase matters, and judicial review proceedings. 

• Advised Great Northern Warehouse on its redevelopment strategy in Manchester.  

• Acted for Delfont Mackintosh in connection with planning due diligence on the purchase of the Victoria Palace Theatre. 

• Advised Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in connection with the development of a players’ lodge in the Green Belt in Enfield. 

• Represented the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Baker Street. 

• Negotiated a Section 106 Agreement in connection with the redevelopment of Berners Hotel, London.  

• Instructed by Lancashire County Council in connection with the judicial review of its decision to grant planning permission to Lancashire Cricket Club for the redevelopment of its ground.  

Richard advises private and high-net-worth clients on sensitive planning matters, including judicial review proceedings, CLEUD applications, enforcement issues and objection strategies relating to developments affecting residential properties, and has a particular expertise in Tree Preservation Orders. 

• nstructed by a well-known theatrical producer opposing Stratford-upon-Avon District Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a neighbouring property and subsequently successfully challenging the planning permission in the High Court. 

• Advised a private client in connection with the use of a neighbouring property as a nursery and its redevelopment proposals. 

• Advised the owner of a significant property in NW3 as to GPDO rights enjoyed by their neighbour and objecting to a significant development proposal. 

• Advised a private client in connection with a strategy to make a CLEUD application in respect of a house that was originally three flats 

• Instructed by a homeowner in Cambridge to give complex advice concerning the enforceability of a TPO.

Richard advises commercial developers, housebuilders, and property investors on all planning matters, including Section 106 negotiations, planning appeals, judicial review proceedings, and strategic advice for major residential, mixed-use, and regeneration schemes across London and throughout England and Wales. 

• Acted for the promoter of a sub-regional shopping centre at Fourwentways Cambridgeshire. 

• Acted for a 3D imaging company in connection with the redevelopment of a commercial building in Camden including successfully appealing against the Council’s refusal of planning permission. 

• Acted for Eagle Star in relation to its proposals to develop a new town at Micheldever, Hampshire. 

• Acted for Free Trade Wharf Management Ltd in its long-running planning applications to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets involving the demolition of wharves and heritage issues. 

• Acted for Barratt Homes on various high-value residential developments as well as a long-running judicial review claim. 

• Acted for the Bleeding Heart Restaurant opposing a neighbouring office redevelopment. 

• Represented Somerfield Stores Limited in the Court of Appeal against the Secretary of State and Tesco Stores Limited.  

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Planning 2025 

Recognised by Chambers UK for Planning 2025 

Honorary Secretary and Solicitor of the Royal Town Planning Institute 

Liveryman of the City of London Solicitors’ Company 

Member of the Compulsory Purchase Association (CPA)