Joanne Rams

I have a thorough understanding of planning matters affecting the London property market alongside well-established connections with officers of various London local planning authorities as well as with the GLA. These strong relationships are particularly important as they allow me to proactively engage with officers early on in projects on behalf of my clients.

Working across a wide range of mixed use, commercial and residential development proposals I have considerable experience working with multi-disciplinary teams on long term complex projects. I identify my clients’ objectives at the outset of each instruction, and project manage the full planning application process to ensure objectives and deadlines are met.

I specialise in advising on Purpose Built Student Accommodation schemes and have a detailed understanding of the key issues facing this sector. I sit on a cross-discipline group which brings together experts from across Gerald Eve to develop holistic strategies for our clients operating in the sector. I advise operators and universities themselves on student housing matters including policy application, scheme design and planning applications and obligations. Clients have included Campus Living Villages, University of Goldsmiths, University of Kingston and Unite Students.

I also have expertise advising on heritage projects and have significant experience dealing with historic buildings and development in sensitive settings. I have experience in advising private individuals on significant residential development proposals in Central London through to Large Country Estates. This has included obtaining planning permission and listed building consent for the restoration and extension of 1 Palace Green, a Grade II* listed building and applications to restore and sensitively extend and refurbish Grade I listed houses, often including development within Registered Parks and Gardens.

The foundation of my experience in dealing with historic buildings, comes from my experience advising large Estate such as The Church Commissioners, Cadogan Estates and Grosvenor. In addition to advising on development proposals across their portfolio of properties (the majority of which involve heritage issues), work for these clients includes helping to set and develop overarching strategies looking at the Estate as a whole and building relationships with key stakeholders and advising and commenting on emerging policy.