Practice

Kevin appears in court, tribunals and inquiries, and in mediations. In addition to all aspects of land development, his work areas include boundary disputes, rights of way, trespass and nuisance, restrictive covenants, hedgerows, high hedges and trees, and connected matters reviewing local authorities’ conduct. He appears at public inquiries and hearings on planning and enforcement appeals and development plan examinations. He acts in criminal and civil courts concerning planning and land law cases.

Kevin also maintains his own website which can be found at www.kevinleigh.co.uk

Kevin is instructed in development cases ranging from residential matters (from one-off to large estate schemes) to commercial and industrial sites (such as retail, office, petrol filling stations, leisure, hotel projects, landfill and cemeteries) and traveller cases. He frequently deals with Green Belt applications and appeals.

In disputes involving boundaries and rights of way, he travels throughout England and Wales to advise and, when necessary, appear in court or at mediation. His clients are individuals, groups, businesses, and local authorities.

Experience

Kevin has been a barrister since 1986, specialising in planning and property law, and approved for direct access (also known as public access) since 2006. He works with solicitors, direct-access clients, and local authorities. He qualified as a mediator in 2011.

Outside the Bar, Kevin has been a consultant to developers and the planning director of a property development and construction company group. He has his own property development business. He also works with various charities as a trustee and advisor.

Kevin brings professional expertise and real-world experience to make a positive difference in achieving the best outcome, working hands-on with clients and any team helping them. He works quickly and adds practical and commercial value to any dispute or project. He will go the extra mile to achieve the right result. He is available by phone, email, and video conference to suit the needs of professional and lay clients. He also visits sites when required.

Education & Career

Kevin joined Thomas More Chambers in March 2025.

Prior to this:

• 2019 - 2024 he headed up the property, planning and environment group at 33 Bedford Row which he left to pursue a more focused career in his specialisms.
• 2008 - 2019 he was at No.5 Chambers where he helped grow the London planning / environment and chancery / commercial practice areas.
• 2007 - 2008 Kevin spent six months as the planning director of a group of development and construction companies.
• 1998 - 2007 he joined 6 Pump Court, Temple to help create its planning and environment group.
• 1991 - 1998 at 10 King’s Bench Walk, Temple he developed the planning team.
• 1987 - 1991 at 1 Verulam Buildings, Gray’s Inn he started his planning practice after completing a planning pupillage at 2 Mitre Court Buildings, Temple.

He also owns a property development company, specialising in obtaining permissions and building schemes.

He graduated from Leicester University in 1985 where he read law (including planning law) and wrote a thesis examining airport development with an emphasis on London airports following the then recent Stansted Airport Inquiry and the report of Graham Eyre QC. The late David Hughes incorporated this into the first edition of his book Environmental Law published by Butterworths.

He was called to the Bar at 22, achieving a mark in the top 3% of the year.

Before university, Kevin was a paralegal working for Wilson, Elser, Edelman & Dicker in New York and then Herbert-Smith & Co. in London.

He was also a founding member of Regency Chambers in Cambridge and Peterborough and a specialist door tenant at Westgate Chambers in Lewes.

Other Professional Activities

Kevin gives talks to audiences of lawyers, other professionals, local authorities and developers on matters related to both substantive and procedural planning law and development issues including preparing for and participating effectively in planning appeals.

He answers practical law questions for the LexisNexis website on its property, planning and litigation panels.

Kevin has helped Jewish communities obtain planning consents for synagogues, schools, mikvehs, and an eruv on a charitable basis. He continues to help communities in Southend, London, and Manchester, pro bono.

Professional Memberships & Appointments

Memberships:
• Chancery Bar Association
• Planning & Environment Bar Association
• Property Bar Association

Appointments:
• Vice-chair of the Bar Council committee (later panel), which dealt with public and licensed access for many years
• Sitting for over 12 years on The Disciplinary Tribunal of the Council of the Inns of Court as a judge dealing with professional complaints against barristers
• Chair of former chambers’ complaints committee for two years
• Re-appointed in 2024 for another three years to sit as a judge on the RTPI Conduct & Discipline Appeal Committee
• Approved instructor for the Inns of Court College of Advocacy and former Council of Legal Education
• Mentor at the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn

Selection of reported cases (excluding planning and enforcement appeal decision letters)

• Allen v SoS & Stratford-on-Avon DC [2012] EWHC 671 (Admin) Reasons challenge including misapplication of Green Belt policy & development plan policies re siting of mobile home in Green Belt
• Bravebyte Ltd v First Sec. Of State [2004] PLSCS 50 Equestrian menage in Green Belt
• Changeinvest Limited v Erika Meta Rosendale-Steinhusen [2004] EWHC 264 (Ch) Right of way & precedent conditions
• Elcock & Elcock v Newham LBC (1996) 71 P&CR 575 Blight notice
• Euro Garages v SSCLG + Cheshire West & Chester Council [2018] EWHC 1753 (Admin) Petrol filling station & contextual meaning of impact on openness in Green Belt
• Georgiou v SoS & Lambeth BC [2011] EWCA Civ 775 Reasons challenge & failure to deal with expert noise evidence
• Hair v Gilman (2000) WL 510 (CA 17th February 2000) Temporary permission for parking converted into permanent easement under s.62 of the Law of Property Act 1925 when landlord conveyed to tenant
• Hinde v Rugby BC & SSCLG [2011] EWHC 3684 Period for challenging development plan
• London Borough of Tower Hamlets v Secretary of State for the Environment & London Galvanizers Ltd 29 July 1988 (Lexis)) Validity of planning condition affecting use of highway
• Majorpier Ltd v Secretary of State for the Environment & Southwark LBC (1990) 59 P.&C.R. 453 Failure to adjourn inquiry & natural justice
• Melton v Uttlesford District Council; R (on the application of Thomas Melton) v Uttlesford District Council [2009] EWHC 2845 (Admin) Taxi licence challenges
• Milton Keynes Council v Skyline Taxis & Private Hire Ltd + Gavin Sokhi [2017] EWHC 2794 (Admin) Cross-border taxi licensing
• Newham London Borough Council v Secretary of State for the Environment & Daniel (1995) 70 P&CR 288 Effect of s54A of TCPA 1990
• Perlman v Rayden [2004] EWHC 2192 (Ch) Accessing servient tenement for easements of right of way
• R v Secretary of State for the Environment, ex p. Collins [1989] EGCS 15 Definition of curtilage
• Re Poulton’s Application (1992) 65 P&CR 319 Discharge of section 52 agreement
• R v Guthrie (CA) The Times 23 February 1994 Majority direction
• R (Weston on behalf of St Albans Taxi Drivers Assoc) v St Albans DC 19 January 2000 (unreported) Judicial review of deregulation of hackney carriage licences
• R (Holding & Barnes plc & Premier Leisure UK Ltd ) v SSETR [2001] 2 WLR 1389 Art 6 human rights challenge to lawfulness of call-in powers, aka Alconbury
• R (Lawrence) v Croydon London Borough Council [2024] EWHC 3061 (Admin) – Meaning of making an application for statutory challenge to the High Court
• R (Rungay) v SSCLG, Corderoy & Rochford DC [2014] EWHC 627 (Admin) High hedge challenge
• Stanley v Rawlinson [2011] EWCA Civ 405 Experts’ duties in negligence claim relating to rebuilding wall that collapsed in high winds
• Stratford Upon Avon District Council v Dyde [2009] EWHC 3011 (Admin) Over-charging taxi fare & excluding unfair evidence in criminal trial
• Syed Shahid v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government [2008] EWHC 2080 (Admin) Effect of future impact where long existing unlawful use
• Tewkesbury BC v 1. Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government 2. Comparo Ltd 3. Welbeck Strategic Land LLP [2013] EXHC 286 (Admin) Meaning & effect of localism under the Localism Act 2011
• 1. The Royal Parks Ltd 2. Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sports v Bluebird Boats Ltd [2021] EWHC 2278 (TCC) Whether a boathouse had become annexed to the land
• Thurrock Borough Council v SSETR & Terry Holding [2003] EWHC 3138 Unlawful change of use of airfield & incidental aviation purpose to dwelling house