I have worked on some of the most complex and politically sensitive projects in London and nationwide, some of which are listed on this page. I am also currently Chair of the Royal Docks Waterways and an elected member of the City of London Corporation, where I am chairing the working group which is bringing forward the £9.5 million public realm transformation works on Fleet Street.
I taught planning law at the University of Cambridge after I graduated with a Masters in Law from there. I write for many of the leading planning and real estate publications and I am an Editorial Board Member for Lexis Nexis and I am invited to speak regularly at many conferences. I was also a Panel Member of the Mayor of London’s Infrastructure Advisory Board, a non-executive member of the London Legacy Development Corporation (sitting on the Planning Committee), a Board member of the Cambridge Land Economy Advisory Board, a Commissioner to the Mayor of London and a non executive member for the Civil Aviation Authority (advising on the expansion of Heathrow airport).
I have a broad client base, comprising developers, public limited companies, banks, landowners, investors, entrepreneurial businesses, social housing providers, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, government departments, agencies and public bodies, infrastructure/utility companies, the wider community, and other agencies who are seeking to acquire planning permission in London or nationwide.
I am ranked as one of the most influential women in planning (Planner, 2020), ranked in Chambers UK (2019) as an “up and coming” planning lawyer in London and recommended as a “Leading Planning Junior” in Legal 500 (2019). I am listed as one of the top three planning lawyers in the UK (Planning, 2016), and I have been voted by Property Week “40 Under 40” as one of the rising stars and most influential people in the property industry aged under 40 (2017).
Martha is a champion for determination and willpower. She relishes complex projects where she can make a real difference, which really sets herself out from her peers. She sees solutions where others see problems but crucially she fosters a real spirit of collaboration throughout the team which allows people to mobilise around her towards a common goal.
Major call-in inquiry for 20 Fenchurch Street, “the walkie-talkie” a 38-storey building and Sky Garden
Redevelopment of Barking Riverside, the largest housing development of 10,800 homes in the Thames Gateway
Redevelopment of the Heygate Estate, centre of the Elephant & Castle £1.5 billion regeneration
Redevelopment of Centre Point, the iconic Grade II listed building and creation of The West End's newest culinary destination and public square at the base of the tower
Transport and Works Act Order to redevelop Bank Station to upgrade the station capacity and enable it to handle 40% more passengers
Hybrid bill to build and operate High Speed Two
Development Consent Order to construct and operate the nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C

