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Matt is located at:

Southampton Office
Alleyn House
Carlton Crescent
Southampton
SO15 2EU
DX: 96882

Testimonials

Thank for your help because I’m more than sure your involvement was a big part of us getting to this point.

Client with planning issues

Thanks again for all your help in getting this across the line with the best deal that we could achieve.

Client advised on a compulsory purchase

I thought you were brilliant. I have no hesitation in recommending you to our clients whenever the needs arises

Planning Director of an RTPI Planning Consultancy in Bournemouth

It is always a pleasure to work with Matt Gilks. Both his experience, coming to the process from a number of different angles, and knowledge of the law are great. He clearly remains focused on delivering positive and practical outcomes for clients for good value, and manages client expectations and instructions well.

The Legal 500 UK 2024

Client testimonial

Top Marks

RTPI Planning Consultant

The platinum level of service received from Matt Gilks and his team has been a real pleasure. Matt is an excellent solicitor with a wealth of specialist knowledge.
What for me has been the best about my experience as a client of Matt is the way he is so approachable and inclusive and really listened to all of members of the action group.
I have been very fortunate to find such a dedicated professional for our very complicated case that required specialist knowledge in a specific area of law.
Thank you.

Middle Park Fields Action Group, Greenwich

Matt Gilks and his team at the Southampton office have been fantastic. Matt’s knowledge is extensive.
I am so grateful for the excellent service our action group has received and I would recommend Matt Gilks and his team.

Michaela Anaka

Trustpilot review

Matt is a highly experienced planning and environment solicitor advising on applications, appeals, judicial reviews and transactional work. Matt advises across a plethora of planning and environment matters; ranging from application strategy, planning conditions, enforcement investigations, development consent orders, the Community Infrastructure Levy, compulsory purchase and related public law issues. Non-contentious work includes planning obligations, habitats, nitrates, phosphates and biodiversity net gain.

Matt advises on planning and environmental matters in both spheres of town and country, with a particular focus in recent years on bespoke business and residential development, minerals, heritage development and waste. He advised the Secretary of State on decision-making, judicial review, policy and legislative drafting as a barrister in the Government Legal Service. He has dealt with complex infrastructure and development in London while a solicitor at international law firms and in local government.

Memberships

Country Land and Business Association (Committee Member of the Hampshire Branch)
The London Society
Southampton Property Association
The Environmental Law Foundation
Compulsory Purchase Association
RICS Rural Market Forum South

Recent examples of work:

Planning advice for a minerals extraction and batching plant sited over 77 hectares accessed from the New Forest National Park with a legal agreement for biodiversity net gain, highway relocation and translocation of the endangered Southern Damselfly.
Judicial Review legal challenge quashing the Secretary of State’s grant of development consent for a sizeable windfarm development off the coast of Norfolk in the North Sea.
Planning advice and a S106 planning obligation in the South Downs National Park to secure a three-year planning consent for the 5-day Boomtown Fair festival at the Matterley Estate.
Advice to the City of London Corporation on the Aldgate Square Project and the Bloomberg European HQ’s section 106 planning agreement including the relocation of the Temple of Mithras scheduled monument.