Energy development can have significant impacts on the environment and on neighbours’ quality of life. We work with clients concerned about a wide range of energy-related projects, from new fossil fuel extraction like coal mines and shale gas wells to power plants, electricity substations, and more.
Energy-related projects can raise all sorts of concerns, from climate change and air quality concerns to impacts on the local landscape and heritage assets, to noise and other nuisance – even earthquakes. People come to us for help in opposing new planning applications for energy-related development or, if permission has been granted, in challenging this in Court. Where such development already exists, the impacts on neighbours may cause a nuisance and we can consider with you whether you may have legal remedies to prevent the nuisance or to seek compensation in some instances.
As in other aspects of our work, we do not oppose energy development, particularly renewables, on principle, but usually for failure of proponents in pursuit of profit properly to consider impacts and alternatives.
Our energy related work is wide-ranging, but some examples of the types of projects we have worked on include:
Fossil Fuels
- Appearing for objecting parties at public inquiries into new coal mines in Whitehaven, Cumbria and Druridge Bay, Northumberland.
- Preparing planning objections for groups opposing new and expanded coal mines in the Pont Valley, County Durham and at Dewley Hill, Newcastle.
- Representing those challenging proposals for fracking and other onshore oil and gas development.
- Challenging the UK Oil & Gas Authority’s decision to allow the sale of a fracking company to an offshore entity, potentially leaving UK taxpayers with significant clean-up liabilities.
Energy generation
- Challenging a variety of “waste-to-energy” schemes from large, multi-unit waste incinerators, to smaller-scale anaerobic digesters and biomass boilers.
- Representing clients challenging renewable energy developments such as wind and solar farms where poor siting or other problems give rise to significant impacts on heritage assets, protected landscapes like AONBs, residential neighbours or the wider environment.
- Advising those suffering from neighbouring energy development and bringing nuisance cases against their operators.
Other energy-related development raising concerns
- Battery storage facilities.
- Land-based infrastructure for large offshore windfarm developments.
- Consideration of impacts and suitability of large nuclear installations like Sizewell C.
Meet the team
Our team has a wide range of experience in matters relating to energy development, from judicial review and nuisance cases, to public inquiries, planning appeals, and advice on applications & permits.
Get in touch
Example Cases
Devon Solar Farm Judicial Review
R (CPRE Devon) v Torridge District Council
Judicial Review of planning permission for solar farm in Devon.
Challenge to Welsh coal mining licence
R (Coal Action network) v Welsh Ministers and the Coal Authority
Permission granted in challenge to South Wales coal mine licensing decision
Opposition to Coal Mine, Whitehaven, Cumbria
Proposed New Underground Metallurgical Coal Mine, Whitehaven, Cumbria
Representing objectors at public inquiry into proposed new Cumbria coal mine
Oil and Gas Authority Challenge
R (Thornton) v Oil & Gas Authority
Challenge to Oil and Gas Authority’s approval of fracking company sale.
Druridge Bay, Highthorn opencast coal mine
Proposed Opencast Coal Mine: Land at Highthorn Northumberland
Opposition to called-in application for opencast coal mine; Highthorn, Druridge Bay, Northumberland.
Bradley Opencast Coal Mine Extension
Land to the west of Bradley Surface Coal Mine, Leadgate
Successful opposition to application for opencast coal mine extension, Bradley, County Durham
Challenge to Bedfordshire EfW facility permit
R. (oao BACI Bedfordshire Ltd) v Environment Agency
Court of Appeal finds that scientific error does not invalidate EfW permit.
Keighley EfW incinerator permission challenge
R. (oao Shimbles) v City of Bradford MDC & anr
Judicial review of incinerator on grounds of heritage harm and impacts on SAC.
Preston New Road fracking challenge
PNRAG & Frackman v SSCLG
Court considers scope of EIA assessment and policy for exploratory fracking permission
They are very effective - they massively raise the profile of this area and the profile of environmental law.