Planning silk Jonathan Easton dies aged 53

One of the region’s top planning lawyers died earlier this month after a battle with cancer.

Kings Chambers, the barristers’ chambers where Jonathan Easton had worked since 2006, announced the news, describing him as “a lovely warm charismatic and big-hearted friend”.

Easton made silk in March 2023 and was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in November of the same year.

He posted regular updates on his condition on his LinkedIn account, a process he found “therapeutic” while also raising awareness of the disease and encouraging people to get checked.

The candid updates drew back the curtain on his treatment and the impact of the disease on him and his family. They garnered support from friends, colleagues, and strangers.

In a post early last year Easton said: “I couldn’t have anticipated the incredible love and support from the LinkedIn community.

“You’ve carried me aloft, old friends and new.”

Easton died on 2 March at St John’s Hospice in his native Lancaster. He leaves behind his wife Helen, brother David, and sons Toby and Oscar.

His brother took to LinkedIn to provide Easton’s last cancer update on his behalf.

“[Jonathan] was surrounded by family and love which is fitting for someone who gave so much love to so many people,” he said.

Easton previously contributed articles to Place North West on planning matters including the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

In 2021, he secured planning approval for Harworth Group for large scale logistics scheme in Bolton following call-in.