Ewan’s core expertise is in providing strategic advice on planning issues. This ranges from advice on development plan allocations and policy through to securing planning permission and advising on planning gain issues, appeals and court challenges.

He also advises on related regulatory matters including roads, water and drainage; and on environmental matters such as regulated processes, nuisance, contaminated land, and protected habitats and species. Ewan also has extensive advocacy experience, having represented clients at numerous public hearings and inquiries as well as appearing before planning committees and committees of the Scottish Parliament.

Ewan is accredited as a specialist in planning law by the Law Society of Scotland. He sits on Homes for Scotland's National Planning Policy Committee, and is a member of both the Law Society’s Planning Committee and the Scottish Property Federation’s Development Committee.

Areas of practice include:

Sector experience includes:

Admitted

1999: Scotland

Relevant experience

Representing ScottishPower Renewables at virtual public inquiries into their Carrick and Earraghail windfarm proposals.
Representing Miller Homes on its Court of Session challenge to the interpretation of National Planning Framework 4.
Representing Taylor Wimpey, Springfield and Allanwater Homes on appeals against refusal of planning permission for housing across the Central Belt.
Representing Edinburgh Airport and Crosswinds Developments on proposals for significant development in West Edinburgh.
Representing Scottish Power Energy Networks on a variety of strategic grid reinforcements including compulsory purchase of land rights.
Representing DF Concerts on a Judicial Review of Glasgow City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for residential development next to King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.
Representing Academy Music Group in related to a called in Application for noise sensitive development immediately adjacent to the Edinburgh O2 Academy music venue.
Representing Swan Group on its proposals for significant mixed-use development at Corton, South East Ayr.
Representing ScottishPower Energy Networks on the promotion of Compulsory Purchase Orders for the Eastern Green Link and Glenmuckloch to Glenglass Reinforcement projects.
Representing a FTSE 100 Real Estate plc on a criminal investigation by SEPA into alleged unlawful wastewater discharge into controlled waters. Included assisting with interviews conducted under caution, negotiations with SEPA and advising on general risk and liability issues.
Advising a FTSE 100 housebuilder plc on potential liability arising from development of significant brownfield contaminated former industrial site in central Scotland. Included strategic advice on risk; contractual negotiations; dealing with regulatory queries and advising on terms of environmental insurance.

Professional bodies

2008: Accredited Specialist in Planning Law, Law Society of Scotland

“Ewan has a great deal of experience and he’s very innovative in thinking up ideas and arguments. Very good at managing the client’s expectations.”

Chambers (2025)

Further testimonials

“Ewan is very commercially aware and gives advice focused on the law. He can communicate quite complex legal matters, has a good knowledge of the law and gives concise argument and advice”

Chambers (2025)

“I have worked with partners Ewan MacLeod and Fraser Mitchell on many occasions, both provide excellent and honest legal advice. Their attention to detail and market knowledge is second to none. Their strengths are easy and regular communication in many forms, be it written, email, text or availability for meetings. They are at the top of their game in Scotland.”

Legal 500 (2024)

“Ewan Macleod has the best housing practice in Scotland.”

Chambers (2024)

“Very easy to work with, quick-thinking, highly articulate and thoroughly professional. Ewan’s ability to not get bogged down in detail or politics is a real asset.”

Chambers (2023)

“Ewan Macleod brings a very thorough and thoughtful approach to matters. He is very useful to have onside.”

Chambers (2023)

“He really is excellent at organising cases, but also at getting under the skin of the legal problems at the heart of them.”

Chambers (2022)

“An exceptional lawyer – there are very few who have the breadth of knowledge across the board in planning that Ewan has.”

Chambers (2021)

“He is excellent at thinking things through.”

Chambers (2021)