Pamela Chesterman

Partner

Real Estate

Liverpool

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"Pamela Chesterman is engaging, efficient and extremely knowledgeable of the law and the sector. Her enthusiasm and ability to assist with planning committees providing legal advice on a wide-range of planning-related topics makes her a firm favourite with committee members and officers.”

Legal 500, Leading Individual

I am a partner in our Liverpool office. Having worked for over 20 years in several of the North West's largest planning and highways authorities and national law firms, I specialise in planning, environmental, highways and local government law and practice. I have built a strong reputation for delivering clear, pragmatic advice tailored to the commercial and strategic objectives of my clients, helping them navigate complex regulatory landscapes with confidence.

For my approachable, solution-focused handling of complex cases, I am listed as a Leading Partner in Legal 500, one of the most renowned legal guides in the UK, which notes: “Pamela Chesterman – fabulous lawyer, tenacious and passionate about town planning.” I take pride in forming long-term client relationships based on trust and consistent results.

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Expertise in

Pamela's accreditations & awards

Pamela's based in the following location(s)

Liverpool

Orega Liverpool, 20 Chapel Street, Liverpool, L3 9AG

0151 3916 184(Telephone)

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri: 8:30am–5:00pm

Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed

View office details

Manchester

One St Peter's Square, Manchester, M2 3AF

0161 464 8424(Telephone)

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri: 8:00am–5:00pm

Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed

View office details

Liverpool
Orega Liverpool, 20 Chapel Street, Liverpool, L3 9AG
0151 3916 184(Telephone)
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:30am–5:00pm

Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed
View office details
Manchester
One St Peter's Square, Manchester, M2 3AF
0161 464 8424(Telephone)
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:00am–5:00pm

Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed
View office details

More about Pamela

What are your core areas of expertise and which clients do you typically advise?

I am proud to be contacted by all types of clients including individuals through to developers, land promoters and local authorities. Applying my expertise to a range of clients who have unique objectives allows me to maintain strong commercial oversight of planning in practice, which benefits all my clients.

I do still particularly enjoy working with local authorities, though – whether that’s as their adviser, or through corporate clients who understand the benefits of having local authority support – no two days are the same, and no decision follows the same route. It keeps me on my toes.

My niche area is enforcement, which draws on my negotiation skills and in-depth knowledge of the planning system.

What recent successes have you achieved for your clients?

I advised a housebuilder who successfully supported a local authority in challenging another housebuilder on the interpretation of mandatory BNG. This resulted in the scheme failing to benefit from planning permission and potentially being considered unviable.

I am also proud to advise North West-based entrepreneurial individuals and companies who are converting redundant historic buildings and bringing them back into use. The projects provide much needed accommodation with additional benefits to the local economy, as well as preserving buildings that are often listed or historically significant.

What were the most significant matters or deals you have led on?

In my time at Cheshire West and Chester Council, I was the lead legal adviser to the Council when applications for hydrocarbon exploration were being submitted. In addition to the ‘usual’ planning considerations and dealing with hundreds of objections and representations, I advised councillors and officers on the application and associated legal and procedural matters for a development of that scale and nature.

I also had to liaise with police and other local authorities to deal with protesters and media attention. It helped me really consider things laterally and I think it helped ensure I would always do so, even if the subject matter in future didn’t seem quite so contentious.

How is your expertise recognised within the industry?

I am often approached by news outlets to help inform their pieces on planning matters – of which there always seems to be one now – recent topics have included the Crooked House public house, which was destroyed by fire, and the local authority considering whether it had powers to require its rebuild.

More recently, I commented on the ENDS podcast about the new NPPF and implications on the environment.

I was recognised by Liverpool Law Society as outstanding lawyer of the year in 2024, which was one of the proudest days of my life. Being recognised in my home turf, providing legal advice to the Liverpool city region is exactly the reason I started a career in the law, but also where I want to be for the rest of my career.

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