Lisa Foster
Partner
Lisa is excellent. She's a real fighter for her clients and really looks after them.
Overview
Lisa has worked for Richard Buxton since May 2008 and became a partner in October 2014.
She divides her practice between planning and environmental protection cases. On the planning side she has long experience in successfully representing Parish and Town Councils, individuals and community groups opposed to inappropriate housing and other development in their neighbourhoods and protected areas like Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks and in proximity to ecologically sensitive areas. She has expertise in opposing development harmful to the historic environment. She drafts planning objections to oppose development when at the planning committee or appeal stage before court proceedings.
She acts for Parish Councils and communities in Local Plans and Planning Appeal Inquiries to stop housing allocations or insensitive development and has successfully halted or redefined the scale large housing allocations in Uttlesford and Rugby and Suffolk. She has represented numerous environmental groups in protected species and habitats cases and has years’ involvement in legal challenges to halt badger culling, loss of bat and other protected species habitat.
Lisa qualified as a lawyer in California in 1985 and worked as a trial lawyer gaining experience as an advocate in California State and Federal court proceeding representing parties in Civil and Criminal cases. She holds practicing certificates in England and Wales the California Bar Association. She also has dual citizenship.
In 1992 she was awarded a Masters in Building Conservation Studies from the University of York. In 1993 she was awarded fellowship funding from ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments) to write a guidance note for English Heritage on access to historic buildings.
In 2008 she was awarded an MSc with distinction from University of East Anglia at graduation. Her dissertation looked at the Environment Agency’s application of EU laws (the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive) to coastal flood risk assessment and management.
Key Cases
Battery Storage appeal dismissed on pollution risk
Pound Road BESS in Hawkchurch, Devon
Inspector dismisses BESS due to risk of polluted fire water run-off into aquifer
Comply means 'comply' when discharging ecology condition
R (Laing) v Cornwall Council
Condition discharge quashed because ecological plan failed to comply with ecological recommendations
Residents win redevelopment scheme JR
R (Damon Moore) v Somerset Council (previously Mendip DC)
Permission quashed for major redevelopment scheme in Frome Town Centre
Challenge to Leicestershire housing development
R (Simmonds) v Blaby District Council
Planning consent quashed for unlawful advice on NPPF §196 and procedural unfairness
Challenge to Housing Permission Outside Parish
Widdington Parish Council v Uttlesford District Council anr
Challenge to reliance on fallback position for housing on edge of village
SSLUHC concedes planning appeal decision unlawful
Rye v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Challenge to permission decision that failed to recognise trees had been felled.
Challenge to development in AONB
Serious on Solar – Ford Village v Buckinghamshire Council
Solar farm permission quashed by consent where officer misled committee on heritage and AONB harm
Challenge to self-build houses in historic setting
Harrison v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Inspector’s decision quashed on error of fact on non-existent flood risk assessment
Challenge to permission for agricultural shed
R (Stephen Carr-Baugh) v Carlisle City Council
Order quashing permission relying on adverse impacts not amounting to statutory nuisance
East Hoathly housing estate judicial review
R (Village Concerns) v Wealden District Council
Court finds planning committee not misled by officer’s remarks on housing quantum
Coldthorn Ancient Woodland challenge
The Woodland Trust v Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing & Communities & ors
SoS confirms that Inspector's requirement for conclusive proof of Ancient Woodland too narrow.
Poole active travel ETO suspension quashed
R(Keyhole Bridge User Safety Group) v BCP Council
Court orders re-consultation following challenge to unlawful ending of Experimental Traffic Order.
Dorset Quarry at Chard Junction
Application for Chard Junction Quarry, Thorncombe
Objection to Dorset Strategic Planning Committee leading to refusal of quarry permission.
Court rules on supplementary badger culling
R (Langton) v S/S for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
High Court provides commentary on badger culling and duty to conserve biodiversity.
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.
Extension of Ruda Holiday Park, Croyde
R (Croyde Area Residents Association) v North Devon Council
Challenge to consent for extended opening hours for holiday park in AONB
Changing use contrary to local plan
Thame TC v S/S for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Review of inspector's decision in Thame to allow a change of use.
Camden Experimental Traffic Order
R (Shah) v London Borough of Camden
Successful challenge to introduction of pop-up cycle lanes in Camden.
Callow Drove public bridleway challenge
Venetia Craggs v SSEFRA
Definitive map challenge not to upgrade footpath successful following Enclosure Act analysis.
Rejection of Uttlesford Local Plan
Uttlesford District Council Local Plan – Inspectors’ letter recommending plan unsound
10,000 unit garden community opposed by Great Dunmow Town Council found unsound
Success in Local Plan Review
Suffolk Coastal Council Local Plan Review.
Local Plan submissions on behalf of residents to preserve ‘The Layers'.
Carmarthenshire cookery school challenge
R (Eggleston) v Carmarthenshire County Council
Challenge against amended decision, issued without consultation 15 months after original decision
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.
Mast Challenge - Forsythia House, Lewisham
R (Mawbey) v Lewisham Council
Court of Appeal clarifies the meaning of "telecommunications mast".
Planning permission for extension quashed
R (Landon) v East Cambridgeshire District Council
Successful challenge to grant of planning permission for extension leading to overlooking.
Rugby Local Plan challenge
Inspector deletes large rural housing settlement from Rugby local plan
Proposed 'Lodge Farm' Local Plan Allocation Deleted from Rugby Local Plan
Little Densole Farm, Kent Downs AONB
R (Steer) v. Shepway District Council
Permission for holiday park in AONB quashed for failure to give reasons.
Directory Quotes
Lisa is a very thorough and forthright solicitor; she tells it how it is and doesn't shy away from difficult decisions or issues.
Lisa Foster is noted for her knowledge of matters regarding heritage protection, with a focus on listed buildings and conservation issues.
Client Quotes
Lisa gave us confidence from the start. She had a strong grip on the facts of our case and was familiar with all the policies.
It can often be a risk to work with a new legal team but it didn’t take long for us to have complete trust and confidence in Lisa and her team.
It is comforting to have found a professional advisor who instils confidence in seeking solutions to environmental and heritage issues.
Very insightful and experts in their field who truly understand the client’s needs. We are so grateful for her services and we highly recommend Lisa and her team at Richard Buxton. Our experience was excellent
Lisa Foster has a deep knowledge of environmental and planning law, and the tactics of mounting complex legal challenges against local government.
Lisa’s on our side and willing to go the extra mile to deliver. She balances a need to be proactive with an efficient use of her time to deliver a great service and great value for money.
Qualifications
- Juris Doc University of California San Francisco Hastings College of Law
- Master in Conservation Studies University of York
- Master of Science Environmental Assessment and Management University of East Anglia
Publications
- Easy Access to Historic Properties, Our Policy, English Heritage, October 1995
- Access to Historic Properties: A Look Forward, Journal of Architectural Conservation No 3 Nov 1995
- Perspectives on Access to Museums and Galleries in Historic Buildings , Museum & Galleries Commission 1996
- Easy Access to Historic Buildings=, English Heritage July 2004
Personal interests
My hobby is traveling and experiencing new languages, foods and cultures. I walked in the Himalayas (Annapurna Range) climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, visited India, Nepal and Ladakh; travelled to Tokyo and I now travel throughout Europe and Greece. Tibet is on the list.