Infrastructure & planning solicitors

Infrastructure, energy & planning

Infrastructure & planning law now sit at the centre of the most pressing challenges facing local authorities, housing providers and public sector organisations. Net-zero commitments, the energy transition, biodiversity net gain and a changing planning system are reshaping which projects get consented, how they are structured and what long-term compliance looks like.

Whether you are promoting new infrastructure, advising on energy installations, navigating the planning process for complex schemes, or managing environmental compliance on live programmes, our role is to align your delivery ambitions with legal duties.

How our infrastructure & planning solicitors can help

We advise across planning, regulatory, environmental and infrastructure law – bringing together specialists in planning, energy, construction, procurement and public law to provide genuinely joined-up advice.

We work closely with planning consultants, internal teams and technical advisers to navigate a fast-changing regulatory landscape. During delivery, we coordinate with our construction and procurement specialists to ensure contracts, appointments and consents keep programmes moving.

Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects

We advise on the full lifecycle of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) guiding our clients through the complete Development Consent Order (DCO) process, from site assembly, compulsory purchase orders and planning consent through to procurement, construction contracts and long-term operational arrangements.

Our infrastructure experience spans complex public transport network projects, including metro and rail extensions, EV charging networks across transport hubs, district heat networks and low-carbon energy infrastructure. We have specific experience of working with Network Rail and transport authorities, managing the complex land, easement and stakeholder arrangements that largescale transport infrastructure requires.

We also advise on battery storage and renewable energy installations – solar, wind and storage – including the planning, land and grid connection arrangements that underpin project viability.

Energy, heat networks and the transition to net zero

Energy and the transition to net zero now shape planning decisions, funding eligibility and long-term asset strategy across the public and private sectors. We advise on the legal frameworks that underpin energy projects, from local authority district heat networks and energy storage systems to EV charging concessions and renewable energy installations.

Our work includes advising on the regulation of heat networks under the Energy Act, Green Heat Network Fund arrangements, subsidy control issues and the procurement and concession structures that allow public sector bodies to deliver energy infrastructure at scale. We can advise on the planning mechanics that make these projects a success, including securing District Energy Network (DEN) connections and future-proofing obligations through the Section 106 process.

Integrating biodiversity net gain (BNG) into planning

Mandatory biodiversity net gain is reshaping how schemes are designed, costed and justified. We support clients in understanding if and how BNG applies, negotiating practical solutions for major sites, small and medium-sized schemes and brownfield regeneration.

This includes advising on on-site design, off-site habitat arrangements, the use of statutory and private biodiversity credits, and the drafting of planning obligations and conservation covenants. Our focus is on integrating BNG into scheme planning from the outset so environmental requirements are met without undermining viability or deliverability.

Regulatory compliance – how to stay ahead

Environmental and infrastructure regulation is tightening across multiple fronts – minimum energy efficiency standards, new housing and building standards, and a widening regulatory lens on sustainability performance and environmental duty.

Working alongside our dedicated housing and corporate governance teams, we help organisations map their regulatory obligations, assess programme robustness and prioritise investment through a risk and assurance-based lens. This includes advising on how environmental requirements interact with social housing regulation, sector risk profiles and local community expectations, and preparing clear governance documentation so board decisions are evidence-based and transparent.