Nagla qualified in January 2005 and joined Birketts in September 2024 from London Borough of Southwark where she was Head of Law (Planning & Development) and Deputy Monitoring Officer.
She worked at the Government Legal Department (GLD) for nearly 7 years including as planning litigator where she advised PINs and the Secretary of State in relation to planning and highways litigation (JRs, section 288s, section 289s) in the High Court, Court of Appeal and UKSC.
During her time at GLD Nagla also worked in-house at MCHCLG as an advisory lawyer advising in relation to called-in and recovered appeals, the development of new planning policy & legislation (e.g. permission in principle, deemed discharge of conditions) and drafted the consolidation of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.
Nagla joins Birketts with significant experience advising in relation to the full range of planning law matters including drafting s106 agreements, highways advice, enforcement and related governance advice. She has also regularly provided training for new planning committee members and attends planning committee as legal adviser.
Nagla enjoys advising on complex legal matters and has been commended for being pragmatic and solutions focused. Nagla is based in our Sevenoaks office.
Recent work highlights
Planning policy
Advising in relation to an Area Action Plan at regulation 19 stage, a draft s106 and CIL SPD and a draft Affordable Housing SPD.
Highways law
Advising in relation to the implementation of a proposed borough wide Controlled Parking Zone which was politically controversial locally.
Planning Advice
Advising officers and members during the determination of the grant of the drop-in application, later the subject of challenge in R (Dennis) v London Borough of Southwark [2024] EWHC 57 (Admin) to ensure the grant of the section 96A application as a pre-condition of the grant of the drop-in planning application (so as to attempt to preserve the status quo of the outline planning permission).
Experience & education
Diploma in Local Government Law & Practice
European Law, LLM (Public International Law)
LLB (Hons)
Areas of Expertise
Insights
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Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025: LPAs to set planning application fees locallylegal updatePlanning and Infrastructure Bill 2025: LPAs to set planning application fees locally
Nagla Stevens12 Mar 20253 min read73