Tom is a planning law specialist with extensive experience advising on the full range of town and country planning matters. He is also recognised as an expert in compulsory purchase orders (CPOs), development consent orders (DCOs), and related applications for compensation including in the Lands Tribunal (Upper Chamber).
Tom regularly provides strategic planning advice on a wide range of development projects of all types, including alternative assets classes such as student accommodation and build to rent.
Tom is particularly experienced in public inquiries, especially those involving enforcement issues.
Throughout his career, Tom has acted for private individuals, developers, funders, housing associations, local planning authorities, and central government.
Tom is exceptional. He is a commercially-minded and tenacious lawyer.
Chambers and Partners, 2025
He’s hugely thoughtful and has very good judgment.
The Legal 500, 2024
Tom Barton is one of the finest planning solicitors in the UK. He invests everything in his cases and is well-liked by both his clients and counsel he instruct.
The Legal 500, 2024
He takes a pragmatic approach to ensure that we are protected, while also having commercial awareness.
Chambers and Partners, 2024
He has an incredibly sophisticated level of knowledge, understanding, experience and capability.
Chambers and Partners, 2024
A commercial operator that sets him apart from his peers. He is extremely practical and pragmatic and always finds the most effective solution.
The Legal 500, 2022
Expertise
- Compulsory purchase / development consent orders
- Planning for development projects
- Public inquiry representation
- Planning enforcement
- Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
- Permitted development
- Heritage and listed buildings
- Judicial review
- Planning appeals
- Planning and highway agreements
Experience
CPO / DCO
- Advised an effected landowner on all matters relating to the acquisition of their property by National Highways for the M25 Junction 28 improvement works including making a series of application for certificates of appropriate alternative development.
- Advised the former owners of the nationally significant Redcar steelworks in relation to the compulsory acquisition of the site ultimately negotiating and concluding a commercial settlement.
- Successfully promoted a compulsory purchase order to facilitate a major estate regeneration scheme on behalf of Slough Borough Council.
- Acted on behalf of a considerable agricultural landowner in objecting to the proposed Beacon Fen Energy Park DCO which would have required extensive cabling to be laid through their crop farm.
- Secured compensation for rights appropriated for planning purposes by a London Council which materially reduced the client’s ability to develop their retained land for residential purposes.
- Promoted the compulsory purchase of large parts of Kingston town centre on behalf of the Council to facilitate a town-centre regeneration scheme.
Enforcement
- Successfully defended 21 enforcement notices issued in respect of a large mixed-use commercial development in the green belt, with permission ultimately granted for the entire development following a two-week public inquiry.
- Acted for Notting Hill Genesis and successfully defended an enforcement notice in respect of critical water infrastructure which, if required to be removed, would have disrupted the service of water to a south London estate which was home to more than 1,000 people.
- Devised a planning strategy to retrospectively regularise a considerable “Grand Designs”-style seafront residential property with a number of material departures from the approved plans including roof height.
Planning (s106) and Highways Agreements
- Drafted and negotiated a highly complex s106 agreement for a new £900m life science campus which will provide 1.6 million sq. ft of lab, office and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facilities.
- Acted for Higgins Partnerships in relation to two linked estate regeneration schemes in Hillingdon to provide a total of 740 mixed-tenure new homes including advising on both s106 agreements and the associated commercial agreements.
- Secured planning permission and listed building consent for the iconic Grade II-listed Space House in Covent Garden to create 255,000 sq ft of workspace, flexible retail and events space. Historic England stated: “Space House is one of the most important redevelopment projects of our time.”
- Negotiated and concluded a series of s106 agreements for student accommodation and build-to-rent schemes across the country.
Acquisitions, Disposals and Financing
- Advised on the disposal of a UK purpose-built student accommodation provider with over 23,000 beds trading under its existing brand including a number of properties with planning defects including those related to listed buildings.
- Advised on the proposed £4bn sale of the UK’s largest forest-based hotel and leisure group and assisted in identifying potential new sites and securing options.
- Advised on a series of real estate finance mezzanine financing deals across the residential, hotel and office sectors.
- Advised on the financing of several last-mile distribution hubs on behalf of the world’s largest retail delivery services.
- Experienced in both the acquisition and disposal of distressed assets including acting for administrators.
Public Inquiries
- Acted at a two-week public inquiry on behalf of the former owners of the nationally significant Redcar steelworks in relation its compulsory acquisition by the South Tees Development Corporation.
- Advised the Secretary of State for Education on a number of school building projects including attending a 5-day public inquiry into the expansion of the Bullers Wood School in Bromley, with permission ultimately being granted.
- Successfully defended 21 enforcement notices issued in respect of a large mixed-use commercial development in the green belt with permission ultimately granted for the entire development following a two-week public inquiry.
Listed Buildings
- Secured planning permission and listed building consent for the iconic Grade II-listed Space House in Covent Garden to create 255,000 sq ft of intelligently designed workspace, flexible retail and events space. Historic England stated: “Space House is one of the most important redevelopment projects of our time.”
- Advised on the total restoration and change of use back to residential purposes of a Grade II* listed property in Kensington that had been built for the theatrical musician W.S. Gilbert of Gilbert & Sullivan.
- Advised on the diversification of a Grade II listed estate to establish income-generating activities which would support the maintenance of the house including a solar farm, rented guest accommodation and spa.
- Provided advice on potential liabilities for failure to maintain a Grade II listed hotel for a leading private equity house.
CIL
- Provided advice on how best to structure the redevelopment of a 5* London landmark hotel.
- Gave strategic advice on the use of various credits and relief to reduce the total liability of an office-to-residential conversion by over £3.5 million.
- Successfully challenged Camden’s calculation of CIL indexation resulting in a material reduction for a major office development.
Judicial Review
- Successfully quashed an inspector’s decision refusing consent for planning permission and listed building consent on the basis of the inspector’s material error in law.
- Defended a challenge to a client’s planning permission for a football stadium regeneration project with major community benefits, resulting in the project being able to proceed.
- Successfully secured on several occasions Government Legal Department consent to judgment – essentially accepting that an application for judicial review should be accepted at the earliest stage, and thereby saving considerable time and expense.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in Chambers and Partners 2025 as Up and Coming
Recognised in The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner
Career
Tom qualified as a solicitor in 2014. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, he worked at the following firms:
- Mishcon de Reya
- Trowers & Hamlins