Call: 1989

Iain Colville

  • Iain’s principal strengths lie in both his advocacy and his written work. He is a clear and persuasive advocate who presents arguments in a structured and measured way and responds well to judicial intervention. He has a good instinct for how to focus the court’s attention on the key issues, particularly in appellate work. His written work is consistently of a high standard. His advice and skeleton arguments are concise, well-reasoned, and effective in distilling complex statutory and factual issues into points that are accessible and persuasive. He also demonstrates strong commercial awareness and pragmatism. Iain picked this case up at short notice when the existing barrister dropped out. His experience was obvious in his advocacy. He was a strong advocate and obviously familiar with the relevant case law and could think on his feet. He also has a tactical way of thinking and could present ideas to the client in a way that she could understand. He was very good at cross-examining the witnesses for the Claimant.

    Legal 500 - 2027
  • A proven winner in difficult appellate cases.

    Legal 500
  • His work includes defending homelessness appeals

    Legal 500
  • Iain has a wealth of knowledge in social housing and he has the ability to pick up difficult points and run with them

    Legal 500 (2026)
  • He is an experienced, seasoned performer.

    Chambers UK
  • His expertise includes homelessness appeals and judicial reviews, housing allocation, possession claims and anti-social behaviour

    Legal 500
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Practice Summary

Iain has a developed practice which embraces all aspects of planning, compulsory purchase, housing, landlord and tenant, homelessness and wider aspects of local government.

He is recommended in Chambers UK.

Homelessness

Appears regularly for and advises both public authorities and homeless applicants in judicial review claims, homelessness appeals and in second appeals.

Housing and Property

Advises and appears on behalf of both public authorities and applicants in housing related judicial review claims and further appeals, covering areas such as housing allocation and Allocation Schemes, redevelopment proposals and compulsory acquisitions.

Residential and Commercial Landlord & Tenant

Appears regularly for and advises both landlord (public authority, RSL and private landlord) and tenants (residential and business tenants) at all levels in all aspects of litigation including possession claims, injunctions and committal proceedings, antisocial behaviour and harassment claims.

Planning & Compulsory Purchase

Advises and appears in planning and compulsory purchase matters, both at public inquiries and on appeal to the High Court and further appeals.

Housing

  • R (Baker) v First Secretary of State [2003] EWHC 2511; (2004) RVR 13 (Compulsory Purchase)

  • Lambeth LBC v Lindsay [2002] EWCA Civ 1084; [2002] HLR 57 (Housing Allocation)

  • Zaman and Bibi v Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport & the Regions and Birmingham CC (2000) 32 HLR 734 (compulsory purchase appeal)

  • R v Southwark LBC ex p. Mason (2000) 32 HLR 88 (compulsory purchase/housing allocation judicial review)

Local Government Inquiries & Reviews

  • Boroughwide Local Plan Inquiry for Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (1995/6)

  • Numerous public inquiries, including major public inquiries, for appellant/LPA/third parties.

Landlord & Tenant

  • London Borough of Islington v Manelva Honeygan-Green [2007] EWHC 1270; [2007] 4 All ER 818 (right to buy)

  • Riverside Housing Association v White [2007] UKHL 70; [2005] EWCA Civ 1385; [2007] 4 All ER 97; [2007] HLR 31 (rent increase notices)

Homelessness

  • Griffiths v St Helens Council [2006] EWCA Civ 160; [2006] 1 WLR 2233; [2006] HLR 29 (discharge of homelessness duties)

  • Bellouti v Wandsworth LBC [2005] EWCA Civ 602; [2005] HLR 46 (homelessness / priority need)

  • R(Hammia) v Wandsworth LBC [2005] EWHC 1127; [2005] HLR 45 (Admin) (homelessness / local authority powers)

  • Tetteh v Kingston upon Thames RLBC [2004] EWCA Civ 1775; [2005] HLR 21 (homelessness / priority need)

  • Porteous v West Dorest DC [2004] EWCA Civ 244; [2004] HLR 30 (homelessness / local authority powers)

Planning

  • Jones v Roger Green (on behalf of The Friends of Fordwich & District) [2005] EWCA Civ 1727; [2006] JPL 1185 (planning appeal / gypsies / definition of “caravan”)

  • Powys CC v National Assembly for Wales [2000] PLCR 385 (planning appeal/gypsies)

  • Social Housing (Band 3)

Author/co-author

  • Author of ‘A Guide to the Planning Process’, Arden’s Housing Library, Lemos & Crane.

  • Co-author of ‘A Guide to the Greater London Authority’, Sweet & Maxwell

Annotations

  • Joint annotator of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (Current Law annotations)

Editor

  • Contributor to ‘Blackstone’s Civil Procedure’, Oxford University Press

  • Contributor to Planning & Human Rights in ‘Human Rights Act 1998 A Practitioners Guide’, Sweet & Maxwell

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