Melissa Murphy

Melissa is a sought after planning silk, whose busy practice consists of helping clients to navigate the complexities of the planning and environmental law system in this country. Her areas of specialism are deliberately broad, encompassing the full range of planning/real estate/environmental litigation work: planning appeals, major infrastructure projects, compulsory purchase and compensation, regulatory crime, together with related administrative law. | Having been recognised as a top-rated leading junior at the Planning Bar in recent years, Melissa became a K.C. in 2022. She is much in demand for her combination of empathetic leadership, tactical acumen and thoroughgoing knowledge of her specialism, described in the directories as: “a brilliant advocate”, “excellent with clients”. | Melissa has a longstanding interest in heritage planning, with considerable experience of London-based heritage work. Her major clients include The National Trust and the Mayor of London / Greater London Authority, but she is also happy to advise and represent much smaller organisations in relation to heritage matters. She has a particular affinity for and expertise in litigation concerning listed buildings and registered parks and gardens. | Melissa has knowledge and experience of major infrastructure projects from the perspective of both promoter and objector, giving her excellent insight into the key strategic, tactical and technical issues which often arise. Recent examples include: | Various inquiries concerning the retention of employment land where higher value uses are proposed. For example, the development of a hotel on employment land in Norwich; the development of a Circle promoted private hospital in Test Valley; and logistics development on sites allocated for other employment purposes. | Part of a team promoting significant mixed use development in Polegate, East Sussex. | Strategic advice to Norwich City Council as landowner in relation to the promotion of a major mixed use development in its area. | Repeat instructions from Sainsbury’s – including a rights of way inquiry to facilitate a store expansion on the Isle of Wight. | Melissa has a particular interest in the interrelationship of domestic and EU law, particularly post-Brexit. Given that interest, she has regularly conducted seminars addressing sustainability and environmental assessment, including the practical implications of Brexit, to private and public sector audiences | Melissa advises developers and local authorities in relation to the adequacy of assessments at both a strategic and site level. | Advice and representation in relation to local plans. | Melissa has appeared at numerous local plan examinations, for the most part as one of a team promoting the plan, but she has also appeared for objectors, including at the London Plan examination. Most recently, Melissa helped Westminster City Council with its City Plan examination, providing a blend of advice and representation. | Melissa is well versed in planning enforcement matters. She has frequently appeared at public inquiries in relation to s.174 appeals, concerning a wide range of development, from Gypsy sites, to stables for polo ponies, to residential development in a national park. She has had considerable success in dealing with enforcement notice prosecutions. | The majority of Melissa’s public/administrative law practice is linked to her other specialist practice areas. | See, for example: | Melissa has knowledge and experience of major infrastructure projects from the perspective of both promoter and objector, giving her excellent insight into the key strategic and tactical which often arise. Recent examples include: | Melissa has attracted particular attention for her strength in promoting “tricky compulsory purchase orders”. She is interested in and enjoys CPO work, with notable success in relation to the recent successful promotion of the Aylesbury Estate CPO, a controversial estate regeneration scheme in Southwark. She is presently advising on other estate regeneration proposals. In addition to town and country planning CPOs, she has also advised in relation to CPOs under the Highways and Housing Acts. As part of her major CPO/planning inquiry work, Melissa was part of a team representing Schroders and Stanhope plc, objecting successfully to Croydon Council’s controversial proposals at the Croydon Gateway site. | Recent clients include: | Melissa has considerable experience of disputes relating to compulsory purchase compensation. She has been instructed in Lands Tribunal proceedings by the London Development Agency, Dover District Council, Essex County Council and Kent County Council, as well as by private individuals. | Her work has included detailed consideration of matters such as: valuation of the land taken, compensation for severance, injurious affection and disturbance, mitigation, betterment, planning assumptions and the application of statutory disregards, Point Gourde (on which she has given talks to both public and private sector audiences) and costs. | She appeared in the Lands Tribunal in the following reported cases: | Much compensation work, of course, is directed to ensuring that settlement is achieved required, Melissa is happy to work with a team to achieve that outcome, providing sensible and timely advice. | Melissa advises on and appears in cases concerning public and administrative law matters, principally those with a planning/compulsory purchase focus. | Notable cases include: | Melissa has a particular expertise in the developing field of ESG – Environmental Social Governance, with a focus on corporate (and third sector) compliance. Melissa’s practice combines the necessary commercial, environmental and regulatory expertise which means she is well placed to offer specialist advocacy and advisory services in this area. Recent advice in this regard includes strategic advice to a major UK charity. | Melissa is a member of the following professional bodies: | “She is extremely strong, very effective to work with, and really enjoys forensic cross-examination of documents.” Chambers and Partners, 2023<br> </strong><br> “She is terrific, very authoritative and very commanding.”<br> <strong>Chambers and Partners, 2023<br> </strong><br> “She has the ability to cut through the information and get to the most important elements of the matter.”<br> <strong>Chambers and Partners, 2023<br> </strong><br> “Very impressed with how quickly she was able to grasp and master the technical issues in the case, and she is absolutely brilliant on cross-examining.”<br> <strong>Chambers and Partners, 2023<br> </strong><br> “Melissa is a brilliant advocate. She leaves no stone unturned and grasps the most complex matters very quickly. Melissa is excellent with clients and always gives advice with the client’s strategic concerns and objectives in mind.”<br> <strong>The Legal 500, 2023<br> </strong><br> “Melissa is excellent. She’s very authoritative and impressive in the way that she identifies and unravels complex issues.” “Her detailed knowledge is remarkable and her retention is excellent.” “Her team-working and reassurance for the client is second to none.”<br> <strong>Chambers and Partners, 2022</strong> | “Particularly impressive and starting to get the recognition she deserves.” The Legal 500, 2022</strong> | “She can get a very good grip of the issues, understand her brief clearly and be extremely thorough.” “She is particularly good on detail and gives particularly forensic analysis.” Chambers and Partners, 2021</strong> | “She is excellent, very patient and forensic and hard-working.” The Legal 500, 2021</strong> | “She is very forceful, sticks to her guns and really does her best to represent her clients” Chambers and Partners, 2020</strong> | “She is very hard-working and has a prodigious memory and capacity for detail” Chambers and Partners, 2020</strong> | “Thorough, committed and enthusiastic” The Legal 500, 2020</strong> | “Gives clear and robust advice with a good understanding of the commercial drivers in any case.” Chambers and Partners, 2019</strong> | “She is excellent, tenacious and very good with clients.” Chambers and Partners, 2019</strong> | “A very technically bright junior with a great understanding of the law who produces a very high standard of work.” Chambers and Partners, 2018</strong> | “She anticipates the unexpected, is very measured and considered, and has very good relationships with solicitors.” Chambers and Partners, 2018</strong> | “Recommended for compulsory purchase orders.” The Legal 500, 2018</strong> | “A real pragmatist. Especially on planning inquiries, she is very, very persuasive.” Chambers and Partners, 2017</strong> | “Very pleasant and approachable, she has a detailed knowledge of the environmental aspects of planning in particular.” Chambers and Partners, 2017</strong> | “She is technically excellent, has a quick grasp of the issues and is very user-friendly.” Chambers and Partners, 2015</strong> | “Experienced in CPO inquiries.” Chambers and Partners, 2015</strong> | “She is clear, methodical and gives good reliable advice.” Chambers and Partners, 2015<br> </strong><br> “She’s proactive, gives clear advice and is good at meeting deadlines”<strong><br> Chambers and Partners, 2014</strong> | “Melissa Murphy maintains a strong presence in the planning arena, handling compulsory purchase, compensation and administrative law matters for clients.” Chambers and Partners, 2014</strong> | “A stong advocate for promoting tricky compulsory purchase order matters.” The Legal 500, 2014</strong> | “Fighter” Melissa Murphy ”doesn’t give up – which is not quite as common at the Planning Bar as it should be.” Chambers and Partners, 2013</strong> | “Her busy year saw her acting as junior to Simon Bird KC on the Pinewood Studios case, as well as receiving instructions to resist the making of the Salford Central CPO.” Chambers and Partners, 2013</strong> | “She also “has the ability to make sure a team focuses on the real issues.” Chambers and Partners, 2013<br> </strong> | ”…earmarked as one of the rising stars amidst the younger generation at the Bar.” Chambers and Partners, 2009</strong>