Any Barristers - Planning

[jamesuk28]

Hi need a Barrister to give a written opinion on a parking planning condition (or lack off) Been quoted £800 + VAT which I think is slightly on the steep side, and being one to use the PH business network wondered do we have any Barristers here? Quality of the opinion is more important than price though.

[Lurking Lawyer]

jamesuk28 said:

Been quoted £800 + VAT which I think is slightly on the steep side

What year call is the barrister the quote relates to? A lot of chambers work on hourly rates these days so you can probably work out how many hours they're assuming will be spent on it if you have an idea of what they charge per hour.

I use one large London set quite a lot and a 12 year call guy there I instruct reasonably frequently charges out at £150 per hour.

Specialist sets often charge more precisely because it's niche work and they have a particular expertise in it.

I wouldn't feel inhibited from asking his clerk how many hours work he is assuming counsel will spend to arrive at that figure, if I were you.

FWIW, unless it's a quick and easy point which won't require any reading/reearch, £800 probably doesn't sound unreasonable.

[jamesuk28]

Thanks for that. Quite honestly its a very simple matter relating to parking. We have been advised by our planning consultants, The county council, and another planning consultant that due to the lack of a parking condition on the planning permission none need be provided.

We have received a letter from the local council stating that it must be provided. I feel the local council are trying to cover their back because they cocked up initially. However I want counsels' opinion. I feel it would take a barrister less than 20 mins to ascertain the answer plus admin time, so hopefully at that price he or she is pretty bloody good.