Jonathan Bainbridge
Partner, Planning
Jonathan leads our London planning team, focussing on technology clusters, large-scale residential, council headquarters and higher education – it’s an eclectic CV.
Jonathan leads our London planning team, focussing on technology clusters, large-scale residential, council headquarters and higher education – it’s an eclectic CV.
Jonathan acts for developers, institutions, private landowners, charitable trusts and local authorities. Commercially driven, his focus is on high-value areas of London and the South East.
He specialises in securing complex, mixed-use planning permissions - Its rarely simple. Jonathan thrives on developing personal relationships with both his clients and planning authorities, which he knows is the key to problem solving and delivering results.
Jonathan currently advises on Cambridge’s most sustainable office scheme, a 55,000 sq m building in the heart of its tech cluster for Pace Investments. He helped Surrey County Council move its county HQ from Kingston upon Thames back into Surrey and is promoting 800 homes in St Albans’ green belt through the local plan process.
Jonathan's detailed understanding of constantly evolving policy and regulations across these asset types and geographical areas - and 11 years’ experience of the planning process – means he is well-equipped to lead your next ambitious planning application or promotion.
Accreditations
Bidwells secure planning permission for Cambridge Grafton Centre’s lab and leisure regeneration on behalf of Pioneer Group
Bidwells has secured planning permission on behalf of Pioneer Group to transform the Grafton Centre, Cambridge, into a destination offering retail, lab, and event space.
Bidwells secure planning permission for Cambridge Grafton Centre’s lab and leisure regeneration on behalf of Pioneer Group
Bidwells has secured planning permission on behalf of Pioneer Group to transform the Grafton Centre, Cambridge, into a destination offering retail, lab, and event space.
London Local Plan Watch - Autumn 2023
Jonathan Bainbridge: My career as a Planner for Science and Technology
As a Partner in the Planning Division at Bidwells, I advise developers and institutions on achieving planning permission through stakeholder alignment and strategic planning solutions.
Repurposing Spaces to Labs: Out-of-Town or City Centre?
Our research shows location is a key consideration for laboratory-based businesses. We compare an out-of-town industrial conversion for Sherlock Biosciences with a retail-to-labs project in Cambridge’s Grafton Centre, examining the considerations of each.
Making Cambridge the science capital of a science superpower relies on Planning reform
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.
London Local Plan Watch - Spring 2023
How you can enhance your Independent school estate - Q&A with Bidwells’ education experts
Navigating the world of school estate management, construction and planning can feel like a minefield, especially when there are constraints on your existing site and a demand for modern facilities. We’ve asked experts from our Project Management, Planning and Building Surveying teams some questions about how to best manage your independent school estate.
Where to grow a life sciences business: 10 reasons why the Golden Triangle can be the world’s pre-eminent science supercluster
Jonathan Bainbridge, Partner - Planning, gives ten reasons why the Golden Triangle can be the world’s pre-eminent science supercluster.
London Local Plan Watch - Autumn 2022
London Local Plan Watch - Spring 2022
London Local Plan Watch - Autumn 2021
London Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
Riding the coat tails of the new London Plan, we expect significant activity across London’s local plans in the next 18 months. As the capital looks to recover from the pandemic, the competing priorities will be a challenge to policy officers London-wide.
London Local Plan Watch - Autumn 2020
A number of London LPAs are focussing their efforts on reviewing the White Paper, analysing housing numbers and waiting for updates on the London Plan. This means that many Local Plans have been faced with delays.
London Local Plan Watch - Spring 2020
Our Planning team constantly monitor the activities of local planning authorities in London to identify opportunities for clients. March's update provides an insight to latest local plans coming forward across the region.
The London Plan: Will Khan deliver?
Back in March 2018 we channelled our inner Mystic Meg and suggested that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was likely to see significant resistance from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government over his plans to radically reform the spatial development strategy for London. On 27 July 2018, James Brokenshire MP (then Secretary of State) fired a warning shot, suggesting our premonitions might be right. On Friday 13 March 2020, following an extensive examination, Robert Jenrick MP (the current Secretary of State) duly followed through. Unlucky for Khan…
Planning team helps James Blunt save his beautiful local pub
Bidwells’ London Planning and Heritage teams have secured planning permission for the extension and refurbishment of the Fox and Pheasant pub on behalf of songwriter James Blunt.
Building a World Leading College at Wembley Stadium
Assembling and delivering planning across the whole Botanic Place site
Assembling and delivering planning across the whole Botanic Place site
Cambridge’s first new-build BREEAM Outstanding office
Cambridge’s first new-build BREEAM Outstanding office
A stunning new build space in the heart of Soho
A stunning new build space in the heart of Soho
Transforming a former bank into a vibrant and bright tavern, we delivered heritage consultancy and planning advice to Langham Hotel.
Brand new teaching facilities for a historic independent school in Hertfordshire
Brand new teaching facilities for a historic independent school in Hertfordshire
Delivering a world-class education environment for an institution over 400 years old.
