Jim Ryan#6204

Jim Ryan

Partner, Acuity Law
Jim is an experienced specialist town and country planning lawyer, whose practice also includes compulsory purchase, highway law, rights of way and the law of commons and town and village greens.
 
His early career was spent as an engineering technician in Local Government and then as an infrastructure designer in the housebuilding industry, before reading for a law degree at UWE Bristol and then training with Burges Salmon in Bristol.
 
On qualification in 2001, he joined Burges Salmon’s Planning Team and later spent four and a half years as sole legal counsel to M J Gleeson Group plc, before returning to private practice.
 
Jim is also a Board Trustee with Emmaus, Bristol, a charity helping people out of homelessness.
Contributed to

20

A listed property has various unauthorised works done to it. Does any criminal sanction for the works
A listed property has various unauthorised works done to it. Does any criminal sanction for the works
Q&A

This Q&A looks at whether criminal sanctions for unauthorised works to a listed building pass to a successor in title once the property is sold.

At what stage should a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) be progressed as part of the process of securing
At what stage should a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) be progressed as part of the process of securing
Q&A

This Q&A considers at which stage a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) should be progressed as part of the process of securing the adoption of roads under an agreement under section 38 of the Highways Act 1980 where an associated planning consent requires the TRO to be implemented, and the developer is required to complete the associated traffic order works.

Can a freehold owner dig under their garage to create an underground space without obtaining planning
Can a freehold owner dig under their garage to create an underground space without obtaining planning
Q&A

This Q&A looks at whether a freehold owner can dig under their garage to create an underground space without obtaining planning permission.

Can a landowner agree to retain maintenance responsibilities for a footpath they have dedicated as a
Can a landowner agree to retain maintenance responsibilities for a footpath they have dedicated as a
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether there is any legal mechanism to avoid the consequence whereby an agreement under section 25 of the Highways Act 1980 (HiA 1980) (known as a 'public path creation agreement') becomes a highway maintainable at public expense as a consequence of HiA 1980, s 36(2)(d).

Can the LPA put forward a different reason for refusal of planning permission at appeal, if that reason
Can the LPA put forward a different reason for refusal of planning permission at appeal, if that reason
Q&A

The Appeal is considered ‘de novo’. The Inspector’s consideration of the Appeal will thus be a fresh and objective decision although the submissions of the parties will be taken into account.

Does a section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 plan have to be the same as an application
Does a section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 plan have to be the same as an application
Q&A

This Q&A looks at whether a plan accompanying a section 106 application has to be the same as an application site plan, or whether it can be restricted to those areas where the obligations will take place.

If a quiet (rarely used) highway maintainable at public expense had an individual who drives large heavy
If a quiet (rarely used) highway maintainable at public expense had an individual who drives large heavy
Q&A

This Q & A considers what options are available to a Highway authority where a very heavy vehicle is causing excessive damage to a lightly used road.

If you divert a route that is yet to be put onto the definitive map, does a diversion order under section
If you divert a route that is yet to be put onto the definitive map, does a diversion order under section
Q&A

This Q&A considers where a route is diverted that is yet to be put onto the definitive map, whether a diversion order under section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 automatically adds the route to the definitive map, or is an order under section 53 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 needed to subsequently add it to the map.

In the absence of a planning condition making a planning permission specific to an individual, are there
In the absence of a planning condition making a planning permission specific to an individual, are there
Q&A

This Q&A considers if there are any circumstances under which a planning approval can be tied to a specific applicant and not transferable with the land.

Is the effect of section 38(3)(a) of the Highways Act 1980 that a section 38 agreement with the
Is the effect of section 38(3)(a) of the Highways Act 1980 that a section 38 agreement with the
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether a council could lawfully enter into a a dedication agreement with the landowners and agree to maintain the road, given that the road is already a highway ie dedicated.

Is there a prescribed width for a public right of way? Are there any minimum and/or maximum criteria?
Is there a prescribed width for a public right of way? Are there any minimum and/or maximum criteria?
Q&A

This Q&A looks at whether there is a prescribed width for a public right of way.

Is there a statutory provision requiring a person who has damaged highway infrastructure (such as a
Is there a statutory provision requiring a person who has damaged highway infrastructure (such as a
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether the statutory powers available to Highway authorities to take action against those damaging the highway extends to infrastructure such as bridges.

Planning permission for the conversion of barns in the green belt to dwellings was granted on the basis
Planning permission for the conversion of barns in the green belt to dwellings was granted on the basis
Q&A

This Q&A deals with the question of barn conversions in the green belt into dwellings within the terms of paragraph 150(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework, and planning requirements where a structurally unsound barn must be demolished prior to conversion.

Slurry umbilical system have pipes that need to be laid across a highway to reach other farm land. Ramps
Slurry umbilical system have pipes that need to be laid across a highway to reach other farm land. Ramps
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether highway authorities permit under any licensing regime slurry umbilical systems where pipes need to be laid across a highway to reach other farmland, ramps will be in place, and signage erected to protect the pipe and to allow road users to move over the pipe.

What can a developer do if they are unable to comply with conditions of an extant planning permission as
What can a developer do if they are unable to comply with conditions of an extant planning permission as
Q&A

This Q&A considers what a developer can do if they are unable to comply with conditions of an extant planning permission as well as what challenges a local planning authority may be subject to.

What is the process for bringing prosecution in the magistrates' court for the offence of contravening a
What is the process for bringing prosecution in the magistrates' court for the offence of contravening a
Q&A

This Q&A considers the process for bringing prosecution in the magistrates’ court, for the offence of contravening a breach of condition notice under section 187 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990), by a local authority.

What mechanism is available to the Highway authority (under section 133 of the Highways Act 1980), to
What mechanism is available to the Highway authority (under section 133 of the Highways Act 1980), to
Q&A

This Q&A considers what mechanism is available to the Highway authority (under section 133 of the Highways Act 1980), to recover expenses incurred in reinstating the footway of a street following an adjoining landowner creating an unauthorised dropped kerb which has to be remediated.

When a planning permission is granted subject to the standard three-year time limiting condition for
When a planning permission is granted subject to the standard three-year time limiting condition for
Q&A

This Q&A considers when the three-year period begins on a planning permission granted subject to a time limiting condition for implementation.

When advertising a proposal to appropriate land which 'consists of or forms part of an open space' under
When advertising a proposal to appropriate land which 'consists of or forms part of an open space' under
Q&A

This Q&A looks at the meaning of 'open space' in the context of advertising a proposal to appropriate land which 'consists of or forms part of an open space' under section 232(4) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Would an agreement under section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 be needed in order to undertake works to
Would an agreement under section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 be needed in order to undertake works to
Q&A

This Q&A consider section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 agreements and their necessity to undertake work to create a new access.

Practice Area

Panel

  • Contributing Author

Qualified Year

  • 2001

Experience

  • Acuity Law, Partner (2020 - Present)
  • M J Gleeson Group plc, Sole Legal Counsel (2010 - 2014)
  • Burges Salmon LLP, Trainee through to Senior Associate (1999 - 2010)

Membership

  • Law Society

Qualifications

  • PG Dip, Legal Practice (1999)
  • LLB (Hons) (1998)

Education

  • University of the West of England (1995/1999)

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