Former council lawyer sets up specialist planning enforcement practice

A lawyer who has worked at three different local authorities is to launch a specialist planning enforcement law firm from the beginning of June.

Ivy Legal, the brainchild of Izindi Visagie, will cover investigations, advice, prosecutions and direct enforcement action.

Visagie, who obtained an MBA after working as a lawyer for councils, said: “Local government budget cuts and the ever increasing pressure on councils to take effective planning enforcement action creates the perfect opportunity for self-contained planning enforcement solutions. Ivy Legal can supplement existing council planning enforcement resources or can step in and carry out the full service, where required.”

She added that councilors, the general public and place making charities/groups were frustrated with ineffective planning enforcement action and were increasingly applying pressure for forceful action.

Planning enforcement was also often a ‘Cinderella service’ within council planning departments and did not receive adequate attention or resources.

Visagie said: “The biggest part of the solution lies in the rigorous application of existing powers as amplified by the Localism Act 2011. Councils have very wide ranging powers including direct remedial action powers such as demolition and site clearance. Traditionally, law firms have been reluctant to get their hands dirty with direct remedial action.”

Visagie has previously worked at Harrow, Bromley and Kensington & Chelsea councils, as well as law firm Finers Stephens Innocent.