Welcome to Ryan and May
Ryan & May Ltd is an independent urban planning practice providing specialist planning advice and services throughout the UK.
Directors Sam Ryan and Bob May bring together over 50 years combined experience in planning consultancy and many years of experience in Local Government planning.
Ryan & May have created a bespoke firm with the benefits of large firm organisational experience and small firm personal attention.
We are recognised for the quality and clarity of our written advice and strategic thinking.
GET TO KNOW US
Directors Sam Ryan and Bob May bring together over 50 years combined experience in planning consultancy and many years of experience in Local Government planning.
Sam Ryan
BA (Hons) MRTPI
Sam has a reputation for providing clear strategic advice and managing complex development projects, including those requiring Environmental Assessment, with a particular focus on housing, sports stadia and urban regeneration schemes.
She builds meaningful and lasting relationships to become a trusted advisor. Sam has an enviable success rate as an Expert Witness at S.78 appeals, local plan examinations, CPO inquiries and the Lands Tribunal.
Email: sam.ryan@ryanandmay.co.uk
Sam Mobile: 0771 858 9451
Bob May
BA (Hons) BPl Dip Mgt FdMM AoU FRTPI
Bob is a proven Expert Witness in Inquiries, Court Cases and Lands Tribunal hearings. Well prepared and calm under pressure, he brings a wealth of experience and great depth of knowledge.
An academician of the Academy of Urbanism, Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute and Honorary Professor at Manchester University, Bob combines passion for place-making with a track record in delivery of complex major mixed-use, town centre, retail and housing projects.
Email: bob.may@ryanandmay.co.uk
Bob Mobile: 07800 666 832
Our Services
Planning applications & appraisals
We are experts in complex planning cases and have had significant success securing planning permission for all forms of development.
Expert Witness
We provide expert planning and amenity reports for s.84 cases; planning assessments for CPO matters; as well as due diligence, second opinion, dispute resolution and risk assessment advice in all manner of claims, litigations, disputes and cases.
Strategic advice & project leadership
Ryan & May can provide advice in support of acquisition/disposal including advice on risks of judicial review and strategy for mitigating planning risks.
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Planning For Change Foundation
Sam and Bob are passionate about using their skills and expertise to help others. We devote 10% 0f all profits to our Charitable Foundation, which donates funds and supports training of urban planners in rapidly developing countries.
We are working with the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community to develop their ‘Planning for Rapid Urbanisation’ initiative and providing planning input to Home Leone’s Destiny Village project in Sierra Leone.
Home Leone’s mission is to create a movement to develop sustainable villages for some of the World’s poorest communities providing low cost homes, supporting businesses, community infrastructure, education and training, enabling beneficiaries to make the most of their opportunities. The pilot, in Freetown, is delivering 344 quality low-cost homes, as part of a vibrant, sustainable and healthy community.
Testimonials
I have engaged Bob as an expert witness in a number of applications to the Upper Tribunal, having been recommend to him by counsel. He is an excellent witness, well versed in an expert’s duties and is a good team player. I am happy to recommend and endorse Bob and will definitely use him again when the opportunity arises.
I have worked alongside Sam on high profile, complex and sensitive development projects for many years. Sam provides commercially focussed, robust and clear planning advice to clients and works seamlessly as part of a wider multi-disciplinary professional team, leading and driving the planning process. Sam is professional and personable, making her a pleasure to work with and always ensures all stakeholders in a project are engaged. Sam is a leader in her field and I would hold no hesitation in endorsing her and Bob as planning and compulsory purchase consultants.
Sophie Stewart, I Partner I Brabners I www.brabners.com
I consider Sam to be one of the pre-eminent planning consultants within the North West. Her experience and knowledge is incredible and I am able to rely on the fact that she will always be able to provide clear, concise and commercially sound advice on all aspects of planning promotion – be it through development of planning promotion strategy, local plan representations, planning applications or appeals. I have seen first-hand what an excellent expert witness she is. I would strongly endorse Sam as a planning consultant
Paul Murray I Senior Planning Manager I Redrow I www.redrow.co.uk
I have worked with Bob May as part of a team of lawyers and planners providing pro bono advice to Freetown City Council in Sierra Leone to help FCC create and implement a system of development control. This has been a very challenging project, requiring creative thinking rooted in pragmatism and the clear articulation of concepts and rules. Bob has been really excellent in doing this, focusing on what really matters, finding solutions to problems and communicating with real clarity. Sam Ryan has an excellent reputation in particular for providing planning expert evidence in the context of compulsory purchase and compensation cases. I have already begun recommending Ryan and May to clients where the best quality planning expert evidence is required.
Sam is a pleasure to work with - she is adaptive, consistent, personable, highly professional and an asset to any client she works for. We have worked with Sam across a number of high-profile developments, where Sam’s work in delivering the client’s vision stood out, not only because of the success she achieved under challenging circumstances in securing these objectives, but also because of the consistently professional, personable and effective way she leads and manages her team and the wider coalition of specialists
Over the course of the last 40 years, I have had the pleasure of working with many talented people. A few of these have been outstanding in their field. Sam in one of these individuals. In the last seven years I have had the pleasure of working with Sam on 3 major sports projects. She has always brought a calm, professional approach to solving the many challenges that arise in securing complex and high profile planning consents. Sam is a real team player, always ready to listen, challenge or advise and when she speaks it is always worth listening to. I enjoy her enthusiasm and dedication to achieving success on our projects but most of all it is a pleasure to work with such a lovely person.
I worked with Bob May on a large case concerning the Tate Modern Gallery viewing gallery. The case involved the issue of nuisance caused by the invasion of privacy suffered by leaseholders in flats opposite in the Neo Bankside building. Bob acted as our expert witness in the High Court giving evidence in relation to the impact that the viewing gallery on the amenity of the flats and on planning issues generally. Bob prepared a comprehensive and clear expert report and was an excellent witness whose evidence was largely accepted. He was also a pleasure to work with. The appeal is due to be heard in the Supreme Court in December 2021.
Contact us
If you have any questions about us that aren’t answered on our website or just want to get in touch, please use the contact form here and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Email: enquiries@ryanandmay.co.uk
Sam: 0771 858 9451
Bob: 07800 666 832