Matthew Spry, Senior Director, Head of London Office, Lichfields
Matthew specialises in planning for residential development, including land promotion and securing permission for urban extensions, new settlements, and related infrastructure. He has provided advice and due diligence to support transactions in the house building and land promotion sector, and is recognised for his work on research and policy advocacy. He has specialist knowledge of plan-making and in 2016 was an advisor on the DCLG Local Plans Expert Group, and has advised on a number of local and strategic-level plans. He is a seasoned expert witness at public inquiries and local plan examinations. He leads the Lichfields work for MHCLG, including on its digital planning reform, on the 2024 London Plan Review and on the use of Special Development Orders.
He has worked for Lichfields for 22 years; and is now Head of its 125-strong London office, which he joined in 2008, having previously worked for the company in Newcastle between 1997 and 2004. Lichfields is the UK’s pre-eminent planning and development consultancy – independent, employee-owned and with 275 people operating out of nine offices. Matthew is also a non-Executive Director of Repton Property Developments – the housing development company established by Norfolk County Council to develop its surplus land for housing – and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.
