Debbie is a specialist in compulsory purchase promotion and compensation.

She is a member of the Compulsory Purchase Association and a Legal Associate Member of the RTPI.

Debbie has 17 years' experience of advising on all aspects of planning, regeneration and infrastructure and leads TLT's Compulsory Purchase practice. 

She is experienced in CPO promotion, and complex compulsory purchase compensation claims for both public and private clients. This includes contested proceedings in the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).

She provides strategic advice and technical guidance on compulsory purchase, together with related planning and highways issues, and advises Members in Committee on CPO, blight, appropriation and compensation related issues.

Debbie chairs the CPA’s Working Group on procedural compulsory purchase reform, and regularly speaks on various aspects of compulsory purchase. 

She is ranked as a “Next Generation Partner” in Legal 500 and a “Star Associate” in Chambers.  

Jurisdiction: England and Wales

Experience

  • Successfully promoting the £92.5M Middlewich Eastern Bypass highway scheme for Cheshire East Council, which is now in the process of being implemented and is intended to be built in 2024, including all stages of the process from order making through to public Inquiry and confirmation, and including advice on compensation issues

  •  Advising Oxfordshire County Council on land assembly issues and statutory orders in relation to the provision of the high profile, £296M Access to Didcot Garden Village scheme, which will be the subject of a call-in planning Inquiry and Inquiries into the CPO, SRO and Bridge Scheme as promoted for the scheme

  • Acting for Stockport MBC in relation to references to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) for the determination of CPO compensation as a result of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road, including the reported cases of: Garner and Garner v SMBC [2021] UKUT 28 (LC); The Metropolitan Borough Council of Stockport v Unknown Owners [2023] UKUT 53 (LC)

  • Advising clients affected by HS2, including negotiations with HS2, advice on risk associated with compulsory purchase and drafting of a Section 106 agreement to secure planning permission and satisfy the concerns of HS2 in relation to its safeguarded area. 

Recently reported cases

  • The Metropolitan Borough Council of Stockport v Unknown Owners [2023] UKUT 53 (LC)
  • Warren James (Jewellers) Ltd v Watford Borough Council [2023] UKUT 153 (LC)
  • Taylor and Taylor v The Metropolitan Borough Council of Stockport [2022] UKUT 142 (LC)
  • Garner and Garner v The Metropolitan Borough Council of Stockport [2021] UKUT 28 (LC)
  • Castlefield Property Limited v National Highways Ltd [2023] UKUT 217 (LC)