Montagu Evans appoints Will Lingard as Partner in its Central London Planning team

Montagu Evans has appointed Will Lingard as Partner in its Central London planning team, further strengthening its planning capability in the capital.

Will joins Montagu Evans after a decade at CBRE, where he led the firm’s Central London planning offer. During this time, he secured planning permission for major schemes including West End office refurbishments, mixed-use developments and heritage-led regeneration projects.

At Montagu Evans, he will advise investors, developers and landowners on planning projects across mixed-use, office, hotel and cultural developments in Central London – one of Montagu Evans’ four key “conviction areas”.

With Will’s appointment, Montagu Evans now benefits from a 17-strong Central London planning team, led by Guy Bransby. The team sits within a wider, expanding planning function of more than 100 specialists, working across areas in addition to Central London, including data centres, townscape, residential, retail, industrial and logistics, and the public sector.

The announcement follows the recent Partner hires of Peter Jacobs, Christian Glazier and Alex White, all Central London advisory specialists, further reinforcing the firm’s growth strategy across its Central London conviction area and strengthening its offer in this key market.

Will’s appointment comes at a critical time for London’s planning environment. Starts on site have slowed, development pipelines have reduced, and the capital’s political backdrop has become more fragmented, leading to a more complex, yet opportunity-rich, planning landscape.

Guy Bransby, Partner and Head of the Central London Planning team, Montagu Evans, said:

“We are very pleased to welcome Will to the team, reflecting our continued focus on growth and attracting top talent to the partnership. He is a leading consultant in his field, with a strong track record across high-profile projects in Central London – which is one of Montagu Evans’ key conviction areas. His experience will further strengthen our expertise in advising clients on navigating the complexities of an increasingly challenging planning environment across a range of sectors in Central London.”

Will Lingard, Partner, said:

“Central London remains a highly attractive investment market, but the route to delivery has become increasingly complex. Success depends on understanding the local context behind policy decisions, while balancing political, environmental and commercial priorities. Montagu Evans’ clarity of focus and strategic approach to these challenges, combined with its purpose-led culture, really resonates with me. I’m looking forward to being part of the continued growth of the firm’s planning offer and supporting clients on some of the capital’s most complex projects.”