Advocating Planning in Renewables

We are pleased to announce that Mary Maitland, a Senior Solicitor in our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team – and a key member of the McGrigors' Planning team – has gained Rights of Audience in the highest civil courts in Scotland. 

Why is this important?
…because, despite the doom and gloom in every newspaper and journal, it is clear that behind the headlines not everything in the planning world has actually come to a standstill. Renewable energy development in particular is very active – but still hard fought.

Over the last year we have conducted Inquiries at locations as far apart as Aberdeen and Dover. On each of these, we have successfully provided advocacy from our own in-house resource and we are delighted to be able to announce the expansion to this capability that Mary's achievement brings.

With an ability to provide advocacy at Hearings and Inquiries, and if need be in judicial review and court appeals, we have long experience of these kinds of planning disputes.  We also provide a seamless link to other contentious areas such as property litigation.  This experience feeds in to our holistic planning service. We also provide strategic, "front-end" advice on planning applications for renewables projects, including pre-application consultation, environmental statement review and drafting and negotiation of conditions.  We have, in addition, been involved in the negotiation of a significant number of planning agreements in relation to renewable developments including those associated with Europe's largest onshore wind farm at Whitelee, south of Glasgow and the Thanet and London Array offshore windfarms.

So how can we help?
Our Planning Team works closely with colleagues in our Energy, Projects and Real Estate units, thus enabling the firm to offer a one-stop shop.  Our team includes solicitors who together cover all of the UK jurisdictions.  If it was ever in doubt, it is now clear that planning issues show no respect for geographical boundaries and our ability to function anywhere in the UK is becoming increasingly important.  Just as we found ourselves facing London Counsel in an Inquiry in Glasgow, so our advocates have appeared opposite Counsel in England.

We would be happy to provide more information on our planning team and to speak to you in relation to any issues you may have.

For further information, contact

Jacqueline Harris
Head of Planning
Tel  +44 (0)131 777 7136
Email  jacqueline.harris@mcgrigors.com