Pictured above: Peter Taylor
The DLA Piper Birmingham Planning Team have been named 'Team of
the Year' at the Royal Town Planning Institute West Midlands annual
awards.
It follows their success in winning major new work along with
the launch of important training initiatives.
The three lawyers involved are Peter Taylor, National Head of
the firm's Planning Team, associate David Brammer and solicitor Amy
Truman.
The event took place at a dinner and ball at Birmingham
Botanical Gardens attended by RTPI president Ann Skippers to
celebrate planning excellence in the region.
Mr Taylor said: "This is a massive accolade.
"It goes without saying that 2009 was a tough year for virtually
everyone.
"However, while not unaffected by the recession, we managed to
maintain activity levels and worked on some of the largest and
highest profile projects of the year.
"We enjoyed quality instructions across the board, remained in
constant demand from old and new clients and worked alongside the
public and private sector to deliver events and training which have
stimulated discussion and knowledge on a wide range of topics."
Highlights included the team's appointment to the EM Lawshare
Panel to deliver legal services to a consortium of more than 50
local authorities in the East and West Midlands; prestigious new
instructions from major clients such as the Argent Group and London
& Cambridge Properties; public inquiry work taking in houses in
multiple occupation, rights of way and highways; and advising on
infrastructure projects in the West Midlands in partnership with
Centro and various other public authorities.
Projects included advising Kier Partnership Homes in relation to
a major development at Potters Way, Fengate, Peterborough; Land
Securities on a 5,000 dwelling and mixed use development in the
Kent/Medway area; and Barratt Homes concerning a major site at St
Neots, Cambridgeshire.
The team has worked alongside Ian Dove QC of Number 5 Chambers
on a major pro bono initiative to promote new guidance on art and
the planning system.
And extensive free training has been available various
planning-related organisations, including Birmingham City Council
and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, in addition to
the RTPI.
"It has been an incredibly busy period and to have our efforts
recognised in this way is a great honour," said Mr Taylor.