A free advocacy service is being offered by planning barristers for lay clients. The service is being organised by the Local Government Planning & Environmental Bar Association*. The main stipulation is that the approach to the association has to be made through a “professional accessor”, such as a surveyor, solicitor or architect. Accessors must satisfy themselves that a lay client could not reasonably be expected to pay for representation by the Bar. It is unlikely that this will be so if the lay client is able to pay for the services of the professional accessor, state guidance notes issued by the association.
The scheme is not normally available to appellants against refusal of planning permission or promoters of profitable land allocations at development plan inquiries. Barrister participants are likely to be pupils or junior members of the Bar.
*Local Government Planning & Environmental Bar Association (Secretary, Robert McCracken), 2 Harcourt Buildings, Temple, London EC4Y 9DB.
