John Gregory

Practice Areas

John is a specialist planning lawyer providing commercial and practical planning and highways advice to developers; promoters; investors, landowners; and local planning authorities. He has particular expertise in relation to complex Section 106 Agreements; Community Infrastructure Levy; and contentious planning matters including Judicial Review, Section 288 challenges; Appeals and Enforcement.

John has extensive experience of working with local authorities and other public bodies, acting as legal adviser at planning committee meetings and regularly providing training to planning committee members.

John began his career in local government and led the Planning & Litigation Team at Warwickshire County Council before moving into private practice in 2017, where he headed up the planning team at a Midlands law firm before joining Weightmans in 2024.

Notable cases

• Advised a consortium of 5 local authorities in relation to their parliamentary petitions and select committee appearances in relation to HS2, helping to secure amendments to the scheme and important mitigation measures, including a new primary school.

• Acted for an LPA in relation to the introduction of its new local plan and CIL charging schedule.

• Provided strategic planning advice and dealt with a section 106 agreement on behalf of an applicant for a 1,700 dwelling scheme in the Midlands; including a new secondary school; and new leisure and health facilities.

• Acted for a Local Authority in connection with planning appeals against its refusal of applications for 2 major new residential sites comprised in an strategic urban extension in the Midlands.

• Acted for an applicant in connection with the Section 106 Agreement to support its application for a 300,000m2 Data Centre Project - one of the largest AI Data Centres in Europe.

• Advised an investor on its acquisition of a complex waste, recycling and food digestion plant; successfully resolving enforcement issues and securing a certificate of lawful use.

• Advised an investor client on complex planning due diligence relating to its acquisition of an International Science Park.

• Acted for the claimant in relation to a High Court/Court of Appeal challenge to the Secretary of State’s decision to refuse planning permission for a major new Data Centre.

• Advised a District Council on its plans to develop a new Community Stadium and associated commercial and residential development.

• Advised landowners in relation to the development of their land for 2000 new dwellings in Warwickshire.

• Advised a local planning authority on the adoption of its new local plan and CIL Charging Schedule.

• Acted for a local planning authority in relation to several Public Inquiries for major housing developments.