Paul Wyard
Solicitor
Thank you Lisa & Paul. We are fortunate to have found such a professional team.
Overview
Paul joined Richard Buxton Solicitors in August 2020. He is involved in all the firm’s work across the board including planning objections, nuisance proceedings and transport-related work. He has a particular interest in environmental judicial review.
Paul has worked on high-profile cases such as the inquiry into the proposed Whitehaven Coal Mine in Cumbria, and a claim against Natural England for granting tree felling licences to High Speed Two Ltd.
Prior to joining the firm, he worked in the public law department of a national firm. Paul graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a first-class degree in Law, with awards.
Key Cases
Planning Permission for McDonald’s Restaurant Quashed
R (Stavrietsky) v Dover District Council
New restaurant close to Dover Castle and St James’ Church quashed on heritage grounds
Appeal from quashing of gazebo permission
R (Ariyo) v London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Appeal granted against quashing of retrospective permission for pergola extension in restaurant garden
Information Appeal: BP British Museum Sponsorship
Garrard v Information Commissioner and the British Museum
Freedom of Information appeal in the context of the controversial sponsorship of high-profile cultural institutions by fossil fuel companies.
Challenge to Inspector in Village Green Application
Village Green Judicial Review
Issues of apparent bias raised in application to register village green
Historic inn preserved
Rye v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Significant win in case of treasured Inn, once registered as an Asset of Community Value.
Village Green Deregistration Appeal
R (Strack) v Sec. of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Challenge to village green deregistration/exchange; Costs cap conceded by Government
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.
Residential Extension Quashed by Consent
R (Marsh) v Wakefield Council
Council agrees that it failed to consider issues raised by objecting neighbours
Ashchurch "Bridge to Nowhere" Appeal
R (Ashchurch Rural Parish Council) v Tewkesbury Borough Council
Challenge to “bridge to nowhere” near Tewkesbury leads to successful appeal clarifying important points of planning law
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
Devon Solar Farm Judicial Review
R (CPRE Devon) v Torridge District Council
Judicial Review of planning permission for solar farm in Devon.
Offshore windfarm substation challenge
R (SASES Limited) v S/S Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Permission granted in first step of challenge to windfarm development consent orders
Challenge to Welsh coal mining licence
R (Coal Action network) v Welsh Ministers and the Coal Authority
Permission granted in challenge to South Wales coal mine licensing decision
Common land deregistration challenge
R (Open Spaces Society) v North Yorkshire County Council
Successful challenge to common land deregistration; Former Richmond racecourse, North Yorkshire.
Water fountain nuisance challenge
H v C
Settlement reached in claim concerning noise nuisance caused by neighbour’s water fountain.
Challenge to Legoland Holiday Villages, Windsor
R(Hudson) v Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
CPRE-Berkshire challenge to Legoland proposal due to ancient/veteran tree harm.
Opposition to Coal Mine, Whitehaven, Cumbria
Proposed New Underground Metallurgical Coal Mine, Whitehaven, Cumbria
Representing objectors at public inquiry into proposed new Cumbria coal mine
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.
Client Quotes
From the initial call through to the successful resolution of our claim the support and guidance provided by Susy, Paul and Will was outstanding.
Thank you, Paul. I have found your approach has been professional, but also friendly and easy-going.
I am very appreciative of the excellent work done by you on our behalf.
I am so impressed with all the Richard Buxton people I've come across in this case.
Qualifications
- PGDip Legal Practice, BPP University (Distinction)
- LLB (Hons) Law, Oxford Brookes University (First-Class)
Memberships
- UK Environmental Law Association
- Lawyers for Nature
Publications
- 'Biodiversity Litigation (Guillaume Futhazar, Sandrine Maljean-Dubois, and Jona Razzaque (eds), Oxford University Press, 2023)' UKELA elaw newsletter (Oct 2023)
- ‘Introducing the Office for Environmental Protection’ UKELA elaw newsletter (Aug 2021)
- ‘Where are the targets in the Environment Bill?’ PIEL UK Blog (Mar 2021)
- ‘Article X: The right to environmental protection?’ Legal Cheek (Jan 2021)
- ‘Branching out: Could we give legal rights to trees?’ Legal Cheek (Jun 2020)
Personal interests
Paul is a keen runner and cyclist. Someone who knows his Beethoven from his Bizet, he has been playing the violin for 8 years; he is particularly interested in Baroque music. Paul was an active member of his university quiz society, where he spent much of his time trying – and failing – to make it onto University Challenge.