Stuart entered the profession in 1989 and is a founding partner of Dunlop Heywood Ltd. He has significant experience of all rating matters including rating appeals, rates management and rates audit.

Project experience

Stuart was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2017. He also holds the RICS Rating Diploma. First awarded in 1922, the RICS Rating Diploma has long been recognised as the gold standard in terms of measuring the capability of rating surveyors. Stuart frequently acts as expert in the Valuation Tribunals, the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and has given expert evidence to the Lands Tribunal Northern Ireland and the High Court Chancery Division.

His clients include ratepayers holding specialist properties such as docks and harbours, airports, casinos and renewable energy sites. He also advises across many classes of conventional property including owners of over 50 shopping centres and retail parks across the UK.

Stuart frequently advises in non-domestic rating cases and has considerable experience relating to whether rating list entries are correct, exemption issues, completion notices, unoccupied rates disputes, valuation issues and collection/enforcement.

During the 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 Rating Lists, Stuart has been heavily involved in the British Retail Consortium Rating Panel, being appointed a Regional Chairman. Stuart is also chairman of various Rating Surveyor Association Panels in respect of the 2010 Rating List.

Instrumental in the Inter Bank Rating Forum; he led matters in respect of the valuation of traditional bank properties through pursuing an appeal to the Lands Tribunal against the 1995 rating list on behalf of Lloyds TSB Bank PLC; this resulted in a national framework agreement for such properties. Other key appeals include:

• Peel Holdings (Land & Property) Ltd v Mills (VO) RA/86/2014 – an examination of the economic crisis, resulting poor demand and the effect on value.
• Belfast International Airport v COV VR/9/2016 – the application of the contractor’s basis method of rating valuation.
• Antique Hypermarket Ltd v Dunlevey (VO) RA/68/2014 – the identification of the hereditament to be entered in the rating list and the correct interpretation of the rebus sic stantibus principle.
• Sunderland City Council v Pallion Engineering Ltd [2016] – an examination of an occupiers liability for non-domestic rates and the enforcement process undertaken by Billing Authorities.

 Other notable projects include co-ordination of all appeals following the Manchester Bomb. He obtained a leading Valuation Tribunal decision concerning the valuation methodology for concert halls and theatres and he advised Dublin Airport Authority where a €20,000,000 reduction in assessment was secured.

 Stuart is active throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In 2017 he was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Rating Diploma Holders’ Section of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

 Career history

• Formed Dunlop Heywood Ltd in 2008
• Joined Dunlop Heywood Lorenz in 2001
• Joined Storey Sons and Parker in 1989