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Caroline Bywater

Principal Associate

Caroline Bywater in glasses and a black jacket, in front of a grey background

What can I do for you

Caroline is an experienced specialist in Mills & Reeve’s planning team. Her work involves a wide range of issues, from reviewing planning application material and drafting complex and bespoke section 106 agreements, to dealing with appeals, call-ins or challenges in the High Court.

Caroline’s clients include developers, landowners, local authorities and investors. She regularly advises on large-scale strategic development projects and urban regeneration schemes, as well as on sector-specific matters such as student accommodation and R&D developments. Caroline has advised on planning matters in relation to many significant residential-led developments across the country.

Supporting your ambitions

Caroline enjoys working as part of a client’s professional team. Getting involved early on in a project can often be important in understanding what is driving a scheme and what a client needs to achieve from it. This makes it easier for Caroline to advise on strategies and suggest ways to ensure that planning risks are minimised and a successful outcome is achieved. She is well-known for providing timely and commercial advice.

Caroline also frequently works together with colleagues in other Mills & Reeve teams, including the real estate, corporate and projects teams, to advise on planning matters which arise on acquisitions and funding transactions.

Some of her recent work highlights have involved working as part of a team securing planning permission for a new life science and innovation district following a call-in by the Secretary of State and acting for a number of higher education establishments securing consent for new campuses or major campus redevelopments

Caroline also has a particular interest in advising on planning issues affecting the living sector, whether that be student accommodation, later living, build to rent or affordable housing.

What do others say

Clients have said that Caroline is "tenacious in resolving complex problems".

She is praised as giving clear and timely advice and offering "support and calm guidance".

What else should you know

Caroline is an active member of the firm’s later living group, and regularly attends ARCO and other sector-related events.

What our clients say about us

  • I think Mills & Reeve are a wonderful firm. The support they have provided to us in a really difficult area has been brilliant, collaborative and commercially minded. The team were absolutely wonderful and a joy to work with. Amazing advice and support and a real collaborative effort with us. I can't thank them enough for getting us through some really tough times and doing so with an amazing can-do attitude.
  • They are friendly, fast, always available and always on top of the game. I tend to judge my legal team against the other side's legal team and never doubt Mills & Reeve is the better of the two.
  • All interactions have been very clear. Responses to questions have always been very swift and unambiguous. Our company, and my family, have used various services in Mills & Reeve with the same level of satisfaction.
  • I value the fact that Mills & Reeve are recognised as a good place to work in the UK Best Companies survey. This aligns with the values of our business and means that Mills & Reeve can share what is required to achieve this status with our business.

As many clients will testify, too many lawyers deliver the required legal expertise but fail to deliver an outstanding client experience. Which is why we always listen to our clients and constantly ask ourselves what we can do to deliver the results you expect.

You expect a close and attentive working relationship, with a lawyer that is responsive and available when you need them. You also want clear, pragmatic and commercial advice tailored to your needs, and transparency and certainty on costs. We completely agree. That’s why every day, through our culture and approach we are committed to delivering the exceptional results and service our clients expect of us.

Related sectors and services

  • Planning law
  • Built environment
  • Real estate
  • Education
  • Food and agribusiness
  • Government
  • Health and care
  • Life sciences

Contact Caroline