Welcome to the Planning and Environment Bar Association Web site.

PEBA is an association of barristers who specialise in planning, environment, compulsory purchase, highways, housing, rating and other aspects of local government and administrative law.

We all qualify for membership by devoting a significant proportion of our practices to these fields. Membership of PEBA is therefore a sign of expertise and experience in these fields.

Go to the next page entitled "PEBA" for an introduction from our Chairman and Vice Chairman. Using the other buttons on the menu bar to the left, you can then find details of our Members, their Chambers and other information to assist you selecting representation and advice in these fields, together with links to other sites.

Please also read the page entitled "Instructing a PEBA member".

PEBA Handbook

Our handbook is now available for downloading in PDF format. Download PEBA Handbook (313Kb) [PDF]

PEBA Events

PEBA Conference - Friday 17th May 2013

For more details please click here

Other Events

Becoming an independent examiner for Neighbourhood Plans - click here

Further CPO Transfer to NPCU - click here 

The case for an International Court for the Environment - click here 

PINS Advertise for Inspectors - click here 

Information for the Election of Bar Council Members 

Election of the Chairman - click here 

Election of the Vice Chairman - click here 

Election of the Treasurer - click here 

Unlocking funds for justice

If your client has had free legal advice and wins their case, the loosing party need not benefit from this free work, ask for a pro bono cost award instead.

The Access to Justice Foundation is working hard to increase awareness of the costs. Seeking a pro bono costs order is simple and ensures that valuable funds to support the free legal advice sector are secured.

As the Foundation’s chair Lord Goldsmith has said “Lawyer’s pro bono commitment to help the public is as strong as ever but it needs pro bon organisations to channel it to where it is needed. And they need funds to do that.”

Pro bono costs are like ordinary costs, but where a party had free legal representation. The costs cover any period when free representation was provided and normal costs can still be sought for fee-paid work.

Seeking a pro bono costs order means that the other side now also has a costs risk to consider and can serve as incentive to settle the case.

Legislation requires the costs to be paid to the prescribed charity, the Access to Justice Foundation, which then distributes the funds to agencies and projects to support the provision of free legal help to those in need.

Pro bono costs are easily sought under CPR 44.3C and s.194 Legal Service Act 2007 and are an invaluable opportunity to support the free legal advice sector.

For detailed information on pro bono costs please visit www.accesstojusticefoundation.org.uk or download the guide on pro bono costs for advocates.