Beyond the major inquiry, examination and Parliamentary work, Simon continues to be involved in a large number of schemes throughout all stages of their progress from advising on the content of Environmental Statements, Habitats Regulations Assessments and application supporting documents through to appearing at inquiry. He is presently instructed on a variety of schemes raising issues as diverse as Green Belt, the adequacy of supporting environmental information, the effect of development on Special Protection Areas, housing and affordable housing, retail, employment development the effect on listed buildings, highways and waste. The schemes include proposals for new and re-aligned overhead power lines, a bypass road scheme and for several thousand dwellings in various parts of the country.
Planning and Infrastructure Projects
Simon provides advice and advocacy in relation to applications, orders and appeals of all kinds.
He advises on all stages of the application and hearing processes. This includes guidance on consultation requirements, on the content of applications and draft orders, the drafting of statements of reasons and advising on the adequacy of supporting information including Environmental Statements and Habitats Regulations Assessments.
He has substantial hearing and inquiry experience (including major inquiries and DCO examinations).
Conditions and Obligations
Simon routinely advises on the adequacy of proposed conditions and planning obligations and the steps required to discharge conditions.
He is experienced in dealing with Regulation 122 compliance issues including on the evidence necessary to justify a variety of contributions including those relating to affordable housing, highways, education, health, libraries, waste collection, museums and archives.
He has advised a number of authorities on the implications of regulation 123 of the CIL regulations.
The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010
Simon has considerable experience of advising of proposals where the effect on a Special Protection Areas (SPA’s) or Special Areas of Conservation (SAC's) is a central consideration. This includes advising on the mechanisms required to put in place SANG provision to meet the requirements of Natural England.
He has guided Plymouth County Council's consideration of MVV's proposals for a major Energy from Waste plant at HM Devonport Dockyard; the proposal had the potential to affect a number of Natura 2000 sites, both SPAs and SACs including:
- The Tamar Estuaries Complex SPA
- The Plymouth Sound & Estuaries SAC
- Dartmoor SAC
- South Dartmoor Woods SAC
As an appropriate authority for the purposes of the Habitats Regulations, Plymouth City Council had to assess whether the proposed development would be likely to have any significant effect on any of these European sites and whether an appropriate assessment under the Habitats Regulations would be required.
Simon advised the Council on their statutory responsibilities, on the scope of the screening assessment required, on the test to be applied in that screening process and on the adequacy of the evidence base used to inform the Council's conclusion. He also advised on the consultations necessary in order to reach a legally robust conclusion and to minimise the risk of challenge. Simon worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team guiding the assessment.
Natural England accepted the conclusions of the screening assessment that there would be no likely significant effect on any European site
National Grid's scheme to replace and re-route the ZZA 400kV overhead line comprising the Tees Crossing passed over the Tees and Cleveland Coast SPA and Ramsar site and over theTees and Hartlepool Foreshore and Wetlands SSSI. Simon advised on both the application for consent (which required the undertaking of an Appropriate Assessment) and on the applications for necessary wayleaves. He appeared at the wayleave hearing in November 2011 following which the Secretary of State granted consent and the necessary wayleaves in February 2012.
Simon has also advised an airport operator on the screening assessment process necessary to reach a conclusion on whether an increase in air traffic movements would be likely to have any significant effect on two nearby Special Protection Areas over-flown by aircraft arriving and departing from the airport. The airport operator was one of the appropriate authorities for the purposes of the Habitats Regulations and has the responsibility of carrying out the assessment.
At a strategic level Simon has advised numerous authorities on the requirements of the Habitats Regulations in relation to the preparation of their Development Plan Documents and on the adequacy of the assessments undertaken.
Aviation
Simon has a wide range of experience in relation to planning matters relating to airports and aviation.
He has acted for the Heathrow Hub in relation to their proposals for additional capacity at Heathrow, Biggin Hill Airport Limited, Southend Airport and was instructed on behalf of the CAA in relation to the proposed Stansted second runway. He has acted for Coventry City Council in relation to proposals for a passenger terminal at Coventry Airport and for Rushmoor Borough Council in relation to proposals for increased weekend flights at Farnborough Airport.
He is well versed in the issues raised by aviation proposals including assessments of need and economic/employment benefit, noise and air quality and climate change.
Roads
Simon has extensive experience of promoting road schemes ranging through plan-making, the development management process and at compulsory purchase and sire roads order inquiries.
He has recently promoted the side roads and compulsory purchase orders necessary to deliver the Congleton Link Road, a road required to unlock the development potential of land to the north of Congleton and to ease congestion and its effects on the town itself.
Energy
Simon's work includes representing Powys County Council at the Mid Wales Windfarm Inquiry, the UK's largest inquiry into onshore wind and advising Plymouth City Council in relation to the proposals for an Energy from Waste plant at HM Dockyard Devonport.
In terms of energy transmission, Simon has worked for National Grid on their proposals for reinforcement of the transmission network at Bramham and on their scheme for the replacement of the Tees Crossing, Stockton on Tees adjacent to a top tier COMAH site. He also acted for Powys County Council in relation to SP Manweb’s Mid Wales Connection Project resisting proposals for an entirely overhead line solution for a 132kV OHL to serve the proposed Llandinam Windfarm
He is familiar with all the policy and technical issues arising from such proposals including the need case, noise, air quality, effects on SACs and SPAs, safety issues including the effects of EMF's, traffic.
Overhead Lines and the Effect on Values of Residential Developments
Simon has advised applicants for necessary wayleaves on the valuation aspects of the oversailed, undeveloped land which the landowner had earmarked for residential development. This has involved the preparation of and valuation of alternative schemes on a with and without overhead line basis and the identification of a range of diminution in value figures.
Environmental Assessment
Simon has been involved with many EIA developments both at application stage and on appeal.
Examples relating to major infrastructure proposals include Project Pinewood, Hatchfield Farm, Newmarket, Ipswich Urban Expansion, Farnborough Airport, the Devonport Energy from Waste plant and National Grid's reinforcement of the Ferrybridge Ring.
His work has included reviewing the adequacy of screening opinions and environmental statements, advising on requests for further information and on challenges to decisions based on claimed failures to comply with the EIA Regulations.
He appeared successfully to defend Ipswich Borough Council's decision to grant planning permission for a major regeneration project at Grafton Way, Ipswich which was challenged on the basis on the basis of alleged defects in the Council's screening opinion.
Green Belts and Countryside
He is familiar with all aspects of Countryside and Green Belt policy and recent experience of developments within the Green Belt includes Project Pinewood within the South Bucks Green Belt and the promotion of the new Dye, London Golf Course at Barnet and National Grid's scheme for network reinforcement at Bramham.
He also has substantial experience of dealing with the landscape effects of proposals within protected or designated landscapes including schemes within AONB's, Areas of High Landscape Value and areas protected by more local designations.
He has experience of a wide range of development proposals in the Green Belt including housing, airports, equestrian establishments, golf courses, waste proposals, transport depots, houseboat moorings and agricultural buildings.
Heritage Assets
Simon's experience includes dealing with development proposals in some of the most sensitive heritage areas within the UK.
These include the proposals for the Jolly Boatman site opposite Hampton Court Palace, St Osyth Priory, Baramshill House and developments adjacent to Grade I, II* and II listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments and development in a wide variety of Conservation Areas.
He has promoted developments in archaeologically sensitive areas including an extension to the Lidsey Landfill site, West Sussex and a business park close to Burghley House. He has advised on the adequacy of Environmental Statements in relation to a wide variety of heritage interests.
Residential
Simon's recent experience ranges from a dwelling on the end of a seaside pier up to new settlements of several thousand dwellings.
He is presently involved in proposals totalling thousands of homes in a number of administrative areas acting for both local authorities and developers.
He has experience of dealing with sites in Conservation Areas, adjacent to Listed Buildings and which impact on other sensitive areas in including the Thames Basin Heath SPA.
He is experienced in dealing with all issues likely to arise in relation to housing proposals including flood risk, noise, air quality, vibration and traffic generation.
He also has experience dealing with less common issues such as health and safety issues relating to fuel storage and electricity transmission, the effects of development on equestrian uses and the likely impacts of hydrogen re-fuelling.
Waste
Simon advises planning authorities, waste operators and regulators on a wide variety of waste planning issues.
This includes advising on the soundness of waste planning policies, on the preparation and content of waste permit applications and on specific waste development proposals.
