James
Leuenberger is a Senior Associate specialising in Central London Planning

James joined Montagu Evans in 2018 and, as a dual‑qualified Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) and Chartered Planning & Development Surveyor (MRICS), brings a multidisciplinary approach to complex planning and development challenges.

He advises a wide range of private and public sector clients, delivering commercially focused planning strategies that support the optimisation and realisation of asset value through the development process.

His core expertise covers major commercial (office and hotel), residential‑led mixed‑use (including PBSA), and retrofit projects. He frequently helps unlock the potential of existing buildings, whether through refurbishment or conversion to alternative uses, particularly across Central London, including the City, West End, Camden, and key Opportunity Areas.

James also advises on smaller, highly constrained infill and refurbishment sites, addressing heritage, policy, and stakeholder complexities to secure deliverable planning outcomes.

Key skills

• Central London planning, including retrofit, repurposing, and alternative use projects, including EIA-scale development.
• Planning in the historic environment, including Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings.
• Developing planning strategies, and coordinating and negotiating planning applications
• Managing projects and acting as principal liaison with multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Assessing development viability and feasibility, including the preparation, submission, and negotiation of Financial Viability Assessments.

Clients

• Arada London (formerly Regal)
• King’s College London
• The Arch Company
• Excel Winner / R&F Properties
• Freshwater Group of Companies