Mike Derbyshire

Partner, Head of Planning

07747 564122 mike.derbyshire@bidwells.co.uk

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Mike leads Bidwells’ planning practice. He is a passionate and vastly experienced advocate for thoughtful, well-designed development and a thought leader on the future of planning in England.

His track record demonstrates how he has overcome our clients’ biggest planning challenges with a blend of strategic and political instinct and forensic knowledge of the planning system. Mike breeds confidence and spots an opportunity quicker than most but more importantly, Bidwells’ most senior planner loves his work.

As an expert witness, Mike’s most at home arguing his case at a planning committee, in the media or at the High Court. He helped turn 26 planning reasons for the refusal of Brookgate’s 1.6m sq ft CB1 scheme at Cambridge train station into an award-winning commercial success, which is now home to three out of four of the world’s trillion dollar corporations.

In 2009, the SoS dismissed a called-in appeal on the former Dunsfold Aerodrome stating it was in an inherently unsustainable location. Nine years later, and with Mike at the helm, the owner secured an allocation for 2,600 homes and approval for a parallel application for 1,800 homes and 250,000 sq m of commercial floorspace after a call-in Inquiry.

Channel 4 even once made a documentary about a one-of-a-kind planning case that Mike won for his client in the High Court after she painted the facade of her Kensington home in bright red and white stripes.

Mike is MRTPI accredited.

Mike managed to help us unlock a site that a series of experienced planning consultants, architects and heritage consultants have been unable to do over a six year period - quite an achievement and one he should be proud of.

Planning

Develop winning planning strategies that deliver successful projects

Planning Consultancy

Comprehensive planning strategy and submission advice - tailored to your site and your objectives.

Our insights

Big Ben and the houses of Parliament in London at dusk

Insights 31.10.24

Following yesterday's Budget Speech, delivered by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, Mike Derbyshire, Max Bryan, Giles Dobson and Christopher Thyer respond to the announcements affecting real estate.

Our Response to the Autumn Budget 2024

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Report 2024

Urban town planning is often a delicate balance between economic ambition, environmental concerns, and societal well-being but it can stumble due to its own overly complex bureaucracy.

Putting Cambridge in the Productivity Premier League

Report 2024

In Bidwells’ latest groundbreaking report, The Productivity Engine, we uncover the fundamental role that space plays in understanding - and solving - the UK’s productivity problems.

The Productivity Engine

Events 18.11.24

Join acclaimed author, barrister, and public speaker Hashi Mohamed for a breakfast panel session, followed by a keynote presentation, on 18th November 2024.

Housing Matters: finding collaborative solutions to the UK’s housing shortage

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Reports & Briefings 18.09.23

Listen to real estate leaders from across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc discuss key issues facing the region at The Future of the Oxford to Cambridge Region Conference 2023.

The Future of the Oxford to Cambridge Region Conference

Insights 25.07.23

Cambridge was identified in a keynote speech from Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, as an area that could supercharge the UK’s position as a science superpower. With the city at its centre.

Making Cambridge the science capital of a science superpower relies on Planning reform

Insights 25.07.23

Making Cambridge the science capital of a science superpower relies on Planning reform

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Blog 31.05.23

To supercharge the Oxford-Cambridge arc and the economy at large, the government must follow through its intention to liberalise planning bottlenecks.

Will planning reform be enough to deliver the help scientists really need?