Planning
Our team advises on all the planning aspects in relation to Certificates of Lawful Use or Development including the merits, requirements, and the drafting of applications. The team also regularly negotiates with local planning authorities and advises with any appeal process if required.
We are experts in the promotion of development consent orders for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects under the Planning Act 2008. Our experience spans all stages of the process, from strategic advice and consultation to decision and beyond. We can advise on all aspects including compulsory purchase, environmental/habitats impact assessments, negotiations with stakeholder and objectors, and drafting the order and supporting legal documents.
We understand the difficulties in relation to enforcing planning control. Our team advises early on preventing enforcement, including negotiations, and in appealing against enforcement notices, statutory nuisance and other regulatory controls. We also have vast experience of clients through the appeal process including representation at inquiry or in court. We are also able to help instruct counsel if appropriate.
Our team has considerable experience in assessing the environmental impact on projects and negotiating with all relevant parties. We advise on all aspects of the assessment from its liability, whether a request for screening needs to be submitted, through to the initial work in relation to screening and scoping opinions and all negotiations; and advise on any objections and disputes in this extremely contentious area.
We regularly guide clients through the jungle of complex European legal requirements in order to comply with the Habitats Regulations. Our experts often oversee the preparation of reports to ensure compliance and negotiate with local authorities as well as national and local conservation bodies.
We draft and negotiate agreements under the Highways Act 1980, including any land ownership and CPO issues and procedures. We also regularly negotiate with local highway authorities and the Highways Agency as and when appropriate.
Our team acts for both developers and objectors in advising them on the often complex issues that result from infrastructure proposals, whether they relate to single site issues, such as wind farms, sports arenas or ports, to linear proposals such as the Thames Tideway Tunnel and new railway and highway schemes.
Our team of planning experts advise clients on their prospects of success in relation to an undergoing Judicial Review. We regularly work closely with our clients to advise on the initial negotiation, any pre-action protocol, the lodging of a case and seeking leave to appeal. We also oversee the entire process and can instruct an appropriate barrister, negotiate with local authorities, government agencies and third parties so that applications for costs can be included.
We work hand in hand with clients, advising them on their requirements and the legal implications in relation to laws for the protection of buildings and the historic environment, which include Scheduled Monuments and World Heritage Sites. We regularly advise our clients on Immunity from Listing, redevelopment and prospects of securing consent, including demolition and “Enabling Development”.
Our planning experts understands the strategies, steps and polices needed to promote developments through local plans, and regularly advise local authorities on production of their plans including SEA. We are also capable of advising on objections to plans, including appearances at local plan inquiries.
Our team advises clients on promoting and objecting to Neighbourhood Development Plans, and negotiate, where necessary, with local planning authorities, Parish Councils and stakeholders
We advise on the contents of major planning applications and negotiations with local authorities and other agencies, including the highways agency and bodies such as EA, NE and CPRE. Our experience stretches to advising on all aspects of appeals from the lodging to the overseeing of the process through to public inquiry, local hearing or written representations, which can include advocacy instruction of counsel.
Our team of planning experts regularly oversees major projects from inception. We advise clients on all aspects of the project from planning applications, EIS and Screening, through to making a case for compulsory purchase if required.
Our lawyers advise on all aspects of Section 106 Agreements, from simple unilateral undertakings in order to address a single point on appeal, through to complex documents dealing with a wide range of issues covering the complexities of major developments such as Major Urban Extensions for thousands of new homes, related uses, and infrastructure.
Working effectively with local authorities, government agencies and other parties, our team is well placed to deliver successful urban regeneration schemes, including those involving major transport improvements, Public Private Partnerships and compulsory purchases.
Environment
We understand the importance of offering our extensive list of energy clients sound and practical legal advice. The ever-increasing profile of climate change and the rise of regulation designed to tackle it has put tremendous pressure on the energy industry. In light of this, we guide our clients through their obligations and assist them in all areas of climate change law including energy-efficient regimes, renewable energy, litigation and reporting and public scrutiny, from a local to an international level.
Our experienced regulatory, transactional and contentious environment lawyers advise both public and private-sector clients by guiding them through all matters encountered directly or indirectly by the niche area of contaminated land. Common issues that arise may include handling brownfield proposals, regulatory investigations and the selling and purchase of industrial and manufacturing sites.
The onus put upon companies to minimise pollution keeps rising. Our environmental team understands the costly and stressful implications to all parties when targets are not met. We help our clients to understand their liabilities and aid them in preventing and remedying any damage that may have occurred by advising on all areas including environmental liabilities insurance, regulation, compliance and environmental permitting issues.
Always ensuring the best possible outcome for clients, we combine expertise in dispute resolution with other techniques including ADR and mediation. Whether the claim in question relates to environmental nuisance, environmental damage, environmental warranties and indemnities or a wide-range of other potential areas of dispute, our team can be relied upon to provide accurate and effective advice.
Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) is crucial to any business. Failure to comply with the necessary requirements carry increase financial and reputational risks. Safety management not only maintains the image of a business, but is often a fundamental part of tendering and procurement. Our lawyers have expertise in advising on compliance and dealing with the evaluation and negotiation of EHS issues, regulatory matters, challenges and rulemaking proceedings. They can also defend clients and their interests in comple litigation and enforcement action.
Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) is crucial to any business. Failure to comply with the necessary requirements carry increase financial and reputational risks. Safety management not only maintains the image of a business, but is often a fundamental part of tendering and procurement. Our lawyers have expertise in advising on compliance and dealing with the evaluation and negotiation of EHS issues, regulatory matters, challenges and rulemaking proceedings. They can also defend clients and their interests in comple litigation and enforcement action.
Our team of environmental experts are perfectly positioned to advise clients on the niche and complex area of nature conservation. We understand the importance that this area plays in relation to many of our clients’ projects and therefore the need to advise on all restrictions and regulations that must be considered which often also involves the negotiating of management schemes and engaging with regulators.
Our lawyers understand and sympathise with the nuisance that noise can cause and the considerable tension that it can bring between businesses, authorities, groups and individuals in local communities. We offer discreet and tailored advice to our clients in relation to handling possible statutory nuisance proceedings.
Effective handling of investigations or prosecution by the Environment Agency is paramount for the efficient running and maintenance of a good reputation for pollution causing businesses. Throughout what can be a stressful process, we will be on hand to offer comprehensive support and advice.
Any form of litigation can be stressful and expensive. Our deeply experienced litigators possess expert knowledge of environmental statutes and regulations allowing them to effectively advise on contentious matters, avoiding potentially extensive financial and reputational damage.
Our team of experts understand the importance of recent legislation that has meant that environmental concerns and liabilities have become a key aspect to be considered when dealing with real estate transactions, company reorganisations and M&A deals. We have tremendous experience in carrying out the extensive due diligence necessary, alongside advising on all other issues including land contamination, regulation and insurance policies.
Our experts are fully aware of the mounting pressures put on clients to minimise landfill and pollution, waste management and waste management activities. We regularly guide our clients through the plethora of legal requirements in this area, including hazardous and nuclear waste, recycling and energy from waste products, environmental issues, new offtakes markets, regulation and compliance and real estate issues.
Our lawyers understand the headache that water and sewerage considerations can cause. The highly-regulated and sometimes difficult to navigate discharge regulations can pose various problems for business, including issues that have criminal consequences and strict liability. We advise clients on prevention methods in order to safeguard their reputation including the need for permits and the registration of exemptions.
