Oliver Botea Carr is currently a PhD candidate at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London (UCL), United Kingdom. This month we sat down with Oliver to discuss his work at the intersection of planning and law and his interest in the historical impacts of judge made law on planning systems. This is also the topic of his PhD, focusing on judge-made law in England and Wales in the context of the common law system.
More about Oliver:
Prior to his PhD studies Oliver qualified as a barrister specializing in planning law, as well as practiced as a planner in London. Oliver holds an MA(Hons) in philosophy from the University of St. Andrews, a Graduate Diploma in Law, an MSc in spatial planning from UCL. He was called to the Bar of England & Wales by Gray’s Inn.
Oliver has written a number of papers on the intersections between planning and law in the United Kingdom, including: ‘Shaping and transposing: an analysis of the impacts of case law on the evolution of planning practice in twentieth century England & Wales’ (2025). Additionally, he co-authored a paper with Dr. Michael Stubbs on the protection of heritage in the English and Welsh planning systems: ‘The policy protection of heritage in England & Wales – time for a rethink? Is the negative heritage test in the guise of “less than/substantial harm” the most appropriate means by which heritage significance can be examined and assessed?’ (2024) which they both presented at the PLPR Conference in Cardiff in 2025.
What are you passionate about?
Having practiced as both a lawyer and a planner in the UK, I am passionate about exploring the relationship between the two disciplines and understanding how they intersect in both theory and practice. In the UK, planning and law are often treated as distinct academic and professional fields, yet I have found over the course of my career and academic study that they are deeply interwoven. I am particularly interested in how legal frameworks shape planning decisions, and conversely, how planning policy can influence legal interpretations in case law, as well as private land use rights.
I have thus far explored my interdisciplinary interest in a historical context. I am fascinated by the evolution of both planning and law, and how the development of one has often been influenced or constrained by the other. For example, how the emergence of planning law as a distinct area of public law in the jurisdiction of England & Wales reflects broader societal shifts in governance, public policy, and land use priorities seen through the emergence of planning as a field of administration. Understanding this historical context provides valuable insights into contemporary challenges, such as balancing development pressures with environmental and community needs.
Ultimately, the reason my passion lies in bridging these fields is not only to contribute to academic discourse but also to improve how planning and legal processes interact in real-world applications. I believe a deeper understanding of their interplay can lead to more equitable and effective outcomes for both disciplines.
What are you working on these days?
I am currently in the final stages of completing my PhD, during which time I have been an active member of a research cluster on planning reform at UCL. As part of this group, I contribute to ongoing academic and policy debates surrounding key issues such as strategic planning, devolution, and environmental governance. Additionally, I have taught on the masters and undergraduate planning law courses the Bartlett School of Planning. I have particularly enjoyed teaching and wish to continue in my future academic career.
I also worked as an archivist on a project document the story of the London Planning Advisory Committee, a statutory body which represented the thirty-three boroughs of London between 1986 and 2000. We are very proud of the resulting website, which we have just launched and can be found here: https://thestoryoflpac.co.uk/
Looking ahead, I intend to build on the foundation of my PhD and wider work by seeking funding for a post-doctoral research project. My proposed study will examine the extent to which the imagination and agency of local authority planners have historically influenced the shaping of the built environment within a specific London borough.
What brings you to PLPR?
I find that the Planning, Law and Property Rights Association (PLPR) is the perfect venue to explore my deep interest in these exact three fields and to hear about how their interactions play out in different countries with different legal and planning systems. I also find the PLPR’s community of academics, early career researchers and PhD students like myself an incredibly supportive and stimulating environment, whether at the conferences themselves, the newsletters or the interesting questions posed over email. In particular, the PhD workshop on the first day of the conference in Cardiff this year was invaluable. I cannot recommend it enough to fellow PhD students: for putting your mind at ease by talking to contemporaries, sharpening viva or PhD defense skills, and to have the opportunity to discuss your ideas with leaders in your field.
Anecdote: things we don’t know about you?
I have been ably aided on my PhD not only by my amazing wife, Laura, but also by a small Jack Russell / Dachshund cross (a Jackshund?) called Flower. I credit the many hours Flower spends sitting on my lap (as she is now as I type) with keeping me rooted in place and away from distractions whilst I read for or write my thesis. Photo attached.
Photo
The first photo above is of me, taken in the Middle Temple Inns of Court, London. The second is of Flower.
