WE ARE NEXTPHASE.

THE TOWN PLANNING EXPERTS.

Christopher Whitehouse

MRICS BSc (Hons) RICS Accredited Expert Witness

Christopher specialises in providing advocacy and expert witness work within Public Inquiries, Appeal Hearings and High Court cases.

His extensive experience and knowledge, together with a dedication to keeping atop of relevant caselaw and decision making, allows him to deliver a high quality service to his clients. He has a busy practice acting for Local and County Authorities, Developers and Residents’ Groups. 

Recent works include providing planning evidence for Public Inquiries in relation to residential development; commercial and mixed use development; minerals and waste schemes; energy from waste development; renewable energy development and major infrastructure development.

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  • "exceptionally efficient and responsive...a very good witness."

    Edward Grant, Barrister - Cornerstone Barristers

  • "demonstrates great skill, reliability and leadership"

    James Pereira KC - Francis Taylor Building

  • "extensive planning knowledge"

    Bryn Walters, Minerals and Waste Planning Manager - Central Bedfordshire Council

  • "a robust witness."

    Stephen Morgan - Landmark Chambers

  • "Christopher’s detailed knowledge of planning policy, analytical skills and thorough preparation made him an excellent witness...a valued member of the appeal team."

    Simon Gould, Development Management Manager - BCP Council

  • "thorough and reliable...well prepared and professional"

    Deborah Jeakins, Manager, County Planning, Minerals and Waste - Cambridgeshire County Council

  • "Chris was a pleasure to work with...extremely responsive...high quality"

    Lucy Mannion, Senior Planning Officer - Thurrock Council

  • "a real safe pair of hands...performed very well under cross examination"

    Emma Dring, Barrister - Cornerstone Barristers

  • "very friendly, approachable, knowledgeable and generally excellent at his job."

    Damian Hunter, Planning Solicitor - East Devon District Council

  • "I would not hesitate in instructing him as the Council’s witness in the future."

    Rachel Killeen, Development Manager - Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

  • "an admirable proof of evidence in short order...a stalwart performance at the inquiry."

    Horatio Walker, Francis Taylor Building

  • “I was extremely impressed with the quality of his written work...confident and persuasive under cross examination."

    Sarah Clover, Barrister - Kings Chambers

  • "a great witness - he is organised, clear...provides compelling evidence to Inspectors."

    Sioned Davies, Barrister - No5 Chambers

Practice Summary

Established in 2011 by Managing Director, Christopher Whitehouse, NextPhase is Regulated by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and are members of the National Expert Witness Agency (NEWA).

Our experienced team provides a range of planning services across England and Wales for major residential and mixed-use development, specialising in providing advocacy and expert witness work within Public Inquiries, Appeal Hearings and High Court cases.

We have a national reputation for delivering a high quality level of work and strong relationships with clients is our priority.

Specialisms

  • NextPhase provides expert advice on planning policy and comprehensive expertise on planning land use and development decisions. We specialise in the interpretation and application of national and local planning policies.

  • NextPhase has extensive knowledge and experience in the intricacies of Green Belt Policy, Green Belt Land Assessment and the application of exceptional circumstances in development schemes and appeals.

  • NextPhase has valuable experience and understanding of how planning authorities evaluate development proposals against policy and their consideration of important contributing factors, vital in establishing the best strategy to reach the desired outcome.

  • NextPhase has extensive experience and knowledge in waste and minerals planning and have developed an important understanding of the different policies and environmental considerations required to be taken into consideration in decision making.

  • NextPhase has extensive experience in considering material considerations for and against development proposals where they warrant departure from Development Plans. Development schemes that do not fully comply with one or more provisions of local or national plans are often contentious and require a careful and measured strategy.

  • NextPhase has a thorough understanding of the likely significant effects of proposals on the environment and proposed mitigation. Largescale developments are likely to have significant environmental effects and ensuring compliance is essential. NextPhase can conduct comprehensive assessments of potential effects for consultation with local planning authorities and the public.

Professional Services

  • NextPhase is a Chartered Town Planning Practice with a proven track record over a wide range of planning matters.

    We deliver an in-depth knowledge of planning policy and case law, to provide expert opinions in appeals, disputes and strategic planning.

    Referrals available on request.

  • NextPhase are experienced appeal advocates across England and Wales, providing expert support to local planning authorities, developers and or individuals, where an application has been refused.

    We can provide clear and concise advice through the appeals process, whether that be via written representations, hearings or public inquiries.

    Contact our team for an initial assessment and advice on the most suitable route.

  • NextPhase is an established planning practice with considerable experience involving large scale development projects which include, but are not limited to, commercial and mixed-use projects, large residential housing developments, energy development and minerals and waste development.

    We have a national reputation for our professionalism and in delivering a high quality level of work.

Contact my assistant

Paula Pemberton, Office Manager

Email: p.pemberton@nextphase.dev

Tel: 01543 571718

  • "I have now worked with Chris on two significant public inquiries involving proposed and controversial Energy Recovery Facilities. He provided planning evidence in both cases. Chris is exceptionally efficient and responsive during the preparation phases of the case, he clearly has a well-organised mind which is reflected in his written evidence. His oral evidence at both inquiries was calm and measured, he was unflappable in cross-examination, a very good witness. Chris is a very effective witness who is a pleasure to work alongside."

    Edward Grant, Barrister - Cornerstone Barristers

  • "Chris gets on top of things quickly, understands fully his role as an independent expert and demonstrates great skill, reliability and leadership in taking cases forward. He brings a good energy and full professional commitment to everything he does. A pleasure to work with."

    James Pereira KC - Francis Taylor Building

  • "I was very impressed with Chris’ extensive planning knowledge and his application to the case throughout. He was able to very quickly get up to speed with the somewhat complex planning back story associated with the Brogborough site, which was a huge advantage, clear he is extremely dedicated and puts in a lot of work. As well as this Chris was highly likeable and easy to work with, nothing seemed like too much trouble. Overall, It has been a pleasure working with Chris and I would certainly have no hesitation in seeking the professional services of NextPhase Development in the future."

    Bryn Walters, Minerals and Waste Planning Manager - Central Bedfordshire Council

  • "Chris very quickly was able to identify the best approach for the client in a very difficult case. He presented this extremely well, both in the written documents and as a robust witness. He was a pleasure to work with."

    Stephen Morgan - Landmark Chambers

  • "BCP Council recently employed the services of Christopher Whitehouse of Nextphase to represent the Council as an expert planning witness in their defence of an appeal (Public Inquiry) lodged against the non-determination of a major planning application for employment use on a site close to Bournemouth University. Christopher was an excellent witness who was able to quickly get up to speed with the complex issues associated with the planning application and provide expert and concise planning advice throughout the Public Inquiry process in order to assist the Council in presenting the best possible case at the Public Inquiry. Christopher’s detailed knowledge of planning policy, analytical skills and thorough preparation made him an excellent witness at the Inquiry and he was a valued member of the appeal team. BCP would definitely use Christopher and NextPhase again in the future."

    Simon Gould, Development Management Manager - BCP Council

  • "Chris immediately got up to speed with the details and complexities of the appeal, identifying the key issues and clearly communicating his approach, including when he would get drafts to us and our KC. Chris was very responsive, thorough and reliable in meeting deadlines throughout the project and was well prepared and professional in giving evidence at the Inquiry. I would not hesitate to appoint him to assist with any appeal in the future."

    Deborah Jeakins, Manager, County Planning, Minerals and Waste - Cambridgeshire County Council

  • "Chris was a pleasure to work with on a recent public inquiry as the Council’s expert witness, he was extremely responsive and delivered the required information promptly and this was of a high quality. He was professional and confident giving evidence and I would not hesitate in instructing him as the Council’s witness again."

    Lucy Mannion, Senior Planning Officer - Thurrock Council

  • "It was a pleasure to work with Chris on a controversial and hotly-contested 2 week inquiry in Oxfordshire, where I was counsel for the local planning authority. Chris was a real safe pair of hands with the planning evidence. Despite his busy schedule, he was reliable in producing work when it was required and it was to a very high standard. His assessments were reasonable and fair and he performed very well under cross examination, remaining calm and unflappable at all times. I would not hesitate to recommend him in future and would welcome the chance to work with him again. And we won the case!”

    Emma Dring, Barrister - Cornerstone Barristers

  • "We instructed Chris to provide planning advice and act as a witness for this authority in respect to two complex appeals (one in relation to a solar farm and the other in relation to a battery storage facility) which were dealt with by way of lengthy Public Inquiries. It was the first time that I have worked with Chris and I found him to be very friendly, approachable, knowledgeable and generally excellent at his job. He responded to e-mails quickly and comprehensively and was always happy to discuss any issues over the telephone or via ‘virtual’ and ‘in-person’ meetings. Our barrister was also impressed with his professional approach and the way that he conducted himself and gave evidence clearly and confidently at the Inquiries. As a result, I would not hesitate to recommend him to colleagues in other authorities and look forward to working with him again in the future!"

    Damian Hunter, Planning Solicitor - East Devon District Council

  • "Chris demonstrated a good understanding of the case and was very organised and efficient. He was confident and professional in giving evidence and he was a pleasure to work with. I would not hesitate in instructing him as the Council’s witness in the future."

    Rachel Killeen, Development Manager - Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

  • "Chris picked up a difficult brief and produced an admirable proof of evidence in short order. I was particularly impressed by the more marginal points which Chris tackled with vigour. This was followed up by a stalwart performance at the inquiry."

    Horatio Walker, Francis Taylor Building

  • “I worked with Chris on a lengthy appeal inquiry for a minerals site. Chris had to consider a range of planning issues, including Green Belt and did not have a long period of preparation before the inquiry started. I was extremely impressed with the quality of his written work; his levels of engagement in the run up to the inquiry and the speed of his responses to rapid change documents, such as the statement of common ground. He knew the case intensively by the opening of the inquiry, and was a reliable and supportive team member. His expert evidence was excellent, and he was calm, confident and persuasive under cross examination. I would have no hesitation in recommending Chris.”

    Sarah Clover, Barrister - Kings Chambers

  • “Chris is a great witness - he is organised, clear, and, importantly knows which points to run. He is honest in his views on merits, and, is able to provide compelling evidence to Inspectors. I have worked with him on a number of appeals and would highly recommend his services.”

    Sioned Davies, Barrister - No5 Chambers