Hannah Brown
Senior Solicitor
Hannah is quickly developing into a go-to environmental and planning lawyer who already deals with high-profile matters.
Overview
Hannah re-joined Richard Buxton in 2016, having worked as a paralegal prior to commencing her training contract at a City law firm.
Since returning, Hannah has assisted across the spectrum of the Firm’s practice, including cases involving planning & EIA development, statutory and private nuisance and Judicial Review proceedings. Hannah has experience in the Magistrates’ Court, High Court and Court of Appeal as both assistant and leading solicitor.
Key Cases
Dartmoor ‘wild camping’ Appeal Intervention
Darwall & Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority
Open Spaces Society intervention in appeal to defend right to Dartmoor wild camping
Blue Marine Foundation challenges UK Government on Overfishing
R (BLUE Marine Foundation) v SoS for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Appeal sought against Government’s decision to set fishing levels above scientific advice
National Landscape car park expansion challenge
R (The Dedham Vale Society) v SoS HCLG & ors
SoS failure to apply ‘conserve and enhance’ duty in a National Landscape
Challenge to Oil Drilling Expansion Plans
Finch (obo Weald Action Group) v Surrey County Council
Supreme Court judgment holding that EIA covers downstream emissions from fossil fuel projects
Hedgerow Replacement Notice confirmed by Inspector
Appeal Reference: APP/HGW/520 Dedham Hall Farm Cottage, Dedham Hall
Landowner required to replace hedgerow in Dedham Vale AONB
Paradise Nature Reserve housing threat stopped
Owlstone Croft, Newnham, Cambridge
Cambridge University student homes branded 'blight on nature reserve' and refused
Parish Council stops conversion of historic pub
The White Cliffs Hotel, St Margaret’s at Cliffe, Dover
Swift intervention results in removal of condition prohibiting community access
Holocaust Memorial for Victoria Tower Gardens
London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust v Minister for Housing
Proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre contravenes Act of Parliament
Challenge to Dogger Bank trawler licensing
Dogger Bank MPA & SAC
Pressure results in prompt implementation of ban in protected area
Race circuit intensification in AONB challenged
R(oao James) v Dover District Council & anr
High Court considers the interaction of planning and nuisance regimes in Lydden Hill RC expansion
Bird sanctuary housing development refused
Adams Road, Cambridge housing development
Housing adjacent to wildlife site unanimously refused by committee, against officer’s recommendation.
Motocross racing CLEUD in AONB quashed
Healey Parish Council v Northumberland County Council
County Council’s grant of Certificate of Lawful Use quashed.
Bristol Downs car parking challenge success
R (Carter) v Bristol City Council & ors
JR challenge to Council’s decision to permit parking on open space.
HS2 felling at Jones’ Hill Wood
R (Keir) v Natural England
Impact of HS2 felling on the endangered barbastelle bat results in challenge.
Cambridge busway realignment objection
CSET busway realignment, Cambridge
Change to Cambridge bus route re-alignment following detrimental heritage impact advice.
Thames party boat pier refused
Proposal for the erection of a pier within the Thames
Amenity impact stops 1500 passenger party boat pier following objection.
Former BSE cattle disposal facility challenge
R (Swire) v SoS HCLG
Lack of expert evidence for housing application on former rendering site unlawful.
Chicken farm planning permission quashed
R (Bury) v Shropshire Council
Shropshire Council consents to judgment following permission to proceed on several grounds.
Challenge to Bedfordshire EfW facility permit
R. (oao BACI Bedfordshire Ltd) v Environment Agency
Court of Appeal finds that scientific error does not invalidate EfW permit.
Housing development in ancient woodland quashed
R(Swire) v Canterbury City Council
Council failed to consider ecology officer’s advice and Ancient Woodland buffer zone.
Controversial Torquay Pavilion scheme quashed
R (Law) v Torbay Council
Council’s incorrect reliance on mitigation measures on protected habitat impact agreed unlawful.
Cambridgeshire domestic smoke nuisance
SS & anr v FP & anr
Long running smoke nuisance resolved following expert advice and mediation
Demolition nuisance private prosecution
S v CC & anr
Statutory nuisance challenge against major London development
Keighley EfW incinerator permission challenge
R. (oao Shimbles) v City of Bradford MDC & anr
Judicial review of incinerator on grounds of heritage harm and impacts on SAC.
Toffee the dachshund owners acquitted
CCC v T
Council’s continued prosecution of dog owner found to be ‘somewhat unreal’ by Court
Directory Quotes
She was very helpful and went above and beyond to support our work. I would thoroughly recommend her.
She guided us and helped us with the decision-making process without any pressure. We really enjoyed working with her.
Hannah's detailed focus is excellent to have.
Hannah Brown is a hard-working solicitor who goes the extra mile for clients. She can always be relied upon for insightful input that moves the case forward.
She is really bright and very good at drafting and thinking through cases.
She is a really good person to have on something complicated as she is very good at seeing how things interact and being able to find the main points to focus on.
Hannah is really excellent, competent and knows her field inside out. She is very good at dealing with clients and counsel, plus she has a great understanding of tactical issues.
Hannah Brown is an experienced associate in environmental and planning law. She has notable strength in judicial reviews and challenges to development projects.
Hannah has a growing reputation in planning and environment claims, and has very broad knowledge.
Client Quotes
We all felt extremely lucky to have you on our side.
Thank you for your work... which was, as ever, so much more than beyond the call.
You have worked so well Hannah, to understand what we wanted. Your advice has been invaluable.
Qualifications
- MA (Hons) Geography, Churchill College, University of Cambridge (II.i)
- Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), College of Law, York (Distinction)
- Legal Practice Course (LPC), BPP University, Cambridge (Distinction)
Memberships
- UKELA
- Royal Geographical Society, Fellow
Personal interests
As an advocate of slow travel, Hannah spends as much time as possible cycle touring (slowly). She has so far cycled (most of) the length of Patagonia, before the pandemic pulled the brakes on, and then meandered her way from John O’Groats to Lands End as part of her ‘Cyclemoon’. Hannah was awarded a Full Blue at University as a member of the sailing team, which is much less glamorous than it sounds.