Karen Howe

Karen is a planning and environment lawyer in our Bristol office. She specialises in all area(s) of planning work, but has a particular focus on providing advice on more technical aspects such as the Community Infrastructure Levy, highways and rights of way and common land and TVGs, as well as drafting complex planning and infrastructure agreements.

Karen has worked for both local authorities and in private practice. Recent experience before joining DAC Beachcroft includes: advice on the procedure and assisting with the preparation of evidence for a Church Consistory Court hearing following an appeal by the Victorian Society against the grant of a faculty for the removal of pews from a Grade 1 listed Abbey; securing an Order for the de-registration of approximately 250 acres of common land on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park to enable development to proceed; advice relating to CPO and related procedures in connection with a major estate regeneration to the north of London and negotiation of the planning and highways agreements thereafter.

She is listed in both Chambers and the Legal 500.

Karen qualified as a barrister in 1983, undertaking pupillage in two of the leading planning sets of chambers. She qualified as a solicitor in 1991, having moved to work in private practice in the City. Karen moved to the south west in 2003 and joined DAC Beachcroft in 2019

Karen’s areas of expertise include:

• Residential and retail planning
• Planning, highways and other infrastructure agreements
• Highways and public rights of way
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Development involving common land or town and village greens
• Community Infrastructure Levy
• Minerals planning
• Contaminated land liability
• Enforcement
• High Court planning challenges

Endorsements 

"She is very attentive and listens to our needs - an all-round excellent adviser." Chambers UK 2021, Planning - South West

"Karen Howe is extremely knowledgeable and proactive." Legal 500 UK 2023 Edition, Planning