Bernard Ralph

Bernard joined JMW in July 2019 from Moore Blatch LLP where he was a Partner and Head of Planning.

Bernard works within all aspects of the contentious and non-contentious planning system including applications (both promoting and objecting), appeals, enforcement investigations, policy development, Community Infrastructure Levy advice and Judicial Reviews (for Claimants, Defendants and Interested Parties). He is also very experienced in negotiating complicated and bespoke (section 106) planning agreements.

He acts for a broad range of clients including individuals, residential and commercial developers as well as aviation and leisure companies that value his responsive and pragmatic service which is focused on giving them what they need in order to achieve their commercial objectives.

For the last ten years he has dealt with aviation objections to wind farms (on behalf of statutory consultees and developers), and has negotiated over 100 related planning/commercial agreements.

Bernard also advises on and specialises in all types of local authority licensing (including alcohol, takeaway, Child Performance and taxi) and has appeared as an advocate in court and at committee hearings.