The planning and environmental law team at Carson McDowell handles a large variety of planning permission work for various industries, including energy, retail, and aviation. Gary McGhee heads the team and provides counsel on a vast quantity of works. Notably, McGhee provides ongoing advice to the Linen Mill Studios on the planning law aspects, including the environmental impact assessment, of the Banbridge Game of Thrones Studio Tour. Grant McBurney is a key player in defending clients in judicial review proceedings. The team is supported by strong senior associates, such as Sarah Dunlop and Faye Phillips. Dunlop has strong experience in securing contested appeals for planning applications before the Planning Appeals Commission, whereas Phillips often assists on large energy and infrastructure projects.
Planning and environment in Northern Ireland
Carson McDowell
Responsables de la pratique:
Gary McGhee
Autres avocats clés:
Grant McBurney; Sarah Dunlop; Faye Phillips; Orla Kelly; Nicole McAlorum
Les références
‘The planning and environment team headed by Gary McGhee is a well-organised, friendly and professional with a broad spectrum of experience. Clients can rest assured that they are in safe hands. A simply first class team.’
‘Gary McGhee and Grant McBurney are two of the most enjoyable people to work with yet deliver solid advice which may not always be popular, but it is refreshing to know that the advice is not just simply what a client wants to hear.’
‘The practice is extremely experienced and are open and easy to deal with at all times. They are very good at communicating and are always willing to provide innovative ideas and approached to any issue that we may have.’
Principaux clients
Island Magee Energy Limited
Tesco
Belfast International Airport
The Port of Belfast
McDonalds
Southern Regional College
Linen Mill Studios
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks
RES (UK & Ireland) Limited
McAleer & Rushe
Breedon plc
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Island Magee Energy Limited in judicial review proceedings which sought to challenge the lawfulness of decision to grant the company a marine licence and other consents for the construction of a gas storage facility to hold up to 500 million cubic metres of natural gas in undersea caverns.
- Advised Tesco to challenge the lawfulness of a decision to grant planning permission for a new ASDA food superstore in North Belfast to Court of Appeal level.
- Acted on instruction from RES Limited in relation to its regionally significant planning application for a fourteen turbine wind farm close to the villages of Carnlough and Glenarm, known as Unishinagh Wind Farm.
A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP
A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP is a strong choice for planning and environmental clients seeking assistance with contentious work. Micaela Diver heads the practice and leads the most significant matters. Diver, a well-regarded litigator, is well versed in working on judicial reviews and court of appeal challenges for planning applications. At the associate level, Deirdre ST John and Stephen Geoghan provide support on many key matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Micaela Diver
Autres avocats clés:
Deirdre St John; Stephen Geoghan; Martha Campbell
Les références
‘A&L Goodbody are incredibly knowledgeable on planning challenges. Their advice is accurate, timely, and dependable. We know, when we instruct them to represent us, that everything will be handled in the best possible way.’
‘Martha Campbell is excellent. She knows her stuff, gives great advice and is just excellent to deal with as a client. Really impressed.’
‘Extremely accessible, knowledgeable, quick to respond and provide very clear advice.’
Principaux clients
ASDA
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
Northern Ireland Water
Scottish Power Renewables Ltd
Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council – Environmental Legal Services Multi-Year Framework
Department for Education – FE Framework Agreement for the Provision of Legal Services to FE Sector
Irish Football Association Stadium Development Company
Benmore Octopus
Principaux dossiers
- Represented ASDA in Judicial Review and Court of Appeal challenges, advising on its planning application for a £17.5 million proposed superstore in Northern Ireland.
- Advised Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in relation to the grant of planning permission for a £45 million educational campus development in Craigavon and the subsequent Judicial Review challenging the grant of that permission.
- Instructed by Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council on a range of complex planning matters which frequently require a mixture of detailed advice on both the legislation and governance of the planning committees within the borough.
Cleaver Fulton Rankin
Cleaver Fulton Rankin fields a team of wide expertise in the environmental and planning areas, with a particular emphasis on judicial reviews. The practice continues to work for Dalradian Gold Limited on its multibillion value mining prospecting licensing matters. Karen Blair, director of the practice, co-leads the Dalradian Gold Limited matter with Brendan Martyn. Blair also advises on various infrastructure planning permissions, spanning aviation, hospitality, amongst other industries. Meanwhile, Martyn is a key contact for Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council on a variety of planning applications and litigation work. On the associate level, Stephen Masterson provides support on various work for local councils.
Responsables de la pratique:
Karen Blair
Autres avocats clés:
Brendan Martyn; Stephen Masterson
Les références
‘Cleaver Fulton Rankin’s planning team have a great depth and breath of knowledge. They are proactive, able and focused. ’
‘The stand-out partner I work with is Brendan Martyn. He is approachable and knowledgeable and is a great communicator. Matters get attended to efficiently and with the minimum of fuss.’
‘Karen Blair and Brendam Martyn both have such dedication and such a knowledge of their sector. They also have a very calming nature that can easily eradicate worries. Neither look at the clock and as a client you never feel rushed.’
Principaux clients
Dalradian Gold Limited
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Belfast City Airport
Assured Energy LLP
Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council and Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
Invest Northern Ireland
C & V Developments Limited
LDS Devco Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Dalradian Gold Limited on all consenting and operational aspects of its proposed gold mine development in Co Tyrone, representing an investment to date of over £160 million.
- Advising and representing Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council in relation to the independent examination of its Local Development Plan before the Planning Appeals Commission and ultimately securing adoption in September 2023, being only the third Council in Northern Ireland to do so.
- Advising Assured Energy LLP in relation two highly controversial anaerobic digestion sites which have attracted enforcement notices and abatement notices from two local councils – all of which have been appealed to the Planning Appeals Commission and the Courts.
TLT
The TLT planning and environment team has a strong focus on energy infrastructure. Outside of energy, the practice also advises on utilities and real estate work. Andrew Ryan leads the team. Ryan often advises on energy-related matters, including planning applications for wind farms and power stations, as well as energy infrastructure investments. Ryan is assisted by senior associate Sarah Mulholland on most matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Andrew Ryan
Autres avocats clés:
Sarah Mulholland
Les références
‘A unique blend of technical legal expertise and commercial awareness.’
‘Andrew Ryan has profound expertise in planning and environmental law, including waste management law.’
‘Highly knowledgeable and experienced market leaders in environmental law.’
Principaux clients
Orsted
EP UK Investments
Cloghan Point Holdings Limited / LCC
NI Water
Braidwater Ltd
Energia Group
NoArc21
Ayr Power Limited
Hill Renewables Ltd
ABO Wind (NI) Ltd
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Orsted, a global renewables developer, on a number of planning applications for major wind farms in Northern Ireland.
- Advising the new owners of Kilroot and Ballylumford power stations on a series of projects at both sites – the two largest power stations in Northern Ireland and a key part of NI’s energy generation infrastructure.
- Advising LCC, a major fuel distribution and supply company, on their multi-million-pound redevelopment of Northern Ireland’s only deep-water oil storage facility.
Tughans
Tughans is well-established in the field of planning and environmental law concerning energy and utilities infrastructure and transport. Of counsel Maria O’loan leads the practice. O’Loan, ‘always a few steps ahead of the competition’, recently advised the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association on the planning, environmental, and procurement aspects of the redevelopment of the Casement Park Stadium. At the associate level, Jonathan Ross is experienced in advising clients in the retail sector.
Responsables de la pratique:
Maria O’Loan
Autres avocats clés:
Jonathan Ross; Emma McKee
Les références
‘Tughans has multi-practice strength and ability to provide high calibre advice across a range of areas.’
‘Tughans is unique in its ability to advise across a range of public sector organisations and public bodies as well as the private sector and eNGO sectors. The Tughans team can draw upon this experience, view a legal problem from any angle, and chart the best solution.’
‘Tughans provides commercial, pragmatic advice in a down to earth way. They are always a pleasure to work with. Their solicitors are always available and proactive, advising us of any recent developments that might be of relevance.’
Principaux clients
Northern Ireland Water
Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company T/A Translink
Friends of the Earth and No Gas Caverns Limited
Indaver Limited
Ardagh Metal Packaging
Greencoat Capital
Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association
System Operator of Northern Ireland (SONI)
Electric Ireland
Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Adman Civil Engineering
WEEV EV Solutions
Woodside Homes