Chambers is currently hosting a rolling programme of seminars. These are directed towards professional clients and to relevant lay clients. Materials and published recordings from recent past webinars are available here.
If you wish to receive notification of these events please sign up to our mailing lists here.
For further information please contact Deirdre Mahon, Marketing Manager or one of our clerks.
The High Court yesterday handed down judgment in Ross v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Renewable Energy Systems Ltd [2025] EWHC 1183 (Admin), rejecting the statutory review challenge to an Inspector’s decision to grant planning permission, on appeal, for a 49.9MW solar farm in Nottinghamshire.
The central issue for determination related to the interpretation of National Policy Statement EN-3 insofar as it relates to overplanting (i.e. the situation where the installed capacity of the facility is larger than the generator’s grid connection agreement).
In a judgment that will have important implications for the solar industry, Eyre J rejected all 6 grounds of challenge. He found that the Inspector was correct to conclude that overplanting which went beyond that necessary to address module degradation was not inconsistent with EN-3; provided the overplanting was justified and account was taken of the full effects of the development (including overplanting), there was no separate requirement to consider whether the overplanting was reasonable; and that the potential loss of energy as a consequence of clipping was not an obviously material consideration which the Inspector was required to take into account. Read the full news item here.
Hereward Phillpot KC and Isabella Tafur, who acted for the Second Defendant developer will discuss the implications of this judgment for the solar industry at virtual Breakfast Briefing this Friday.
Practical Information
The webinar will be held on Zoom. There is no charge to attend but places must be reserved in advance using the 'Book Here' button below.
Date: 23 May 2025
Time: 8.30-9.30am
This afternoon seminar will provide an opportunity to be informed about and discuss the latest developments in infrastructure planning with some of the leading barristers in the field. It will focus on key practical issues, providing a convenient way for busy solicitors, consultants and local authority officers to keep up to date and to manage the implications of recent changes.
Chair: Alexander Booth KC
Confirmed speakers and topics
Airports development - where are we now? – Rebecca Clutten, Daisy Noble
Maritime and marine issues affecting offshore infrastructure – Ned Westaway
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill reforms - Mark Westmoreland Smith KC
Onshore and offshore renewables update, including new draft National Policy Statements and recent decisions – Hugh Flanagan
Case law update – Mark O'Brien O'Reilly, Jonathan Welch
Practical Information
Date: Monday 2 June 2025.
Time: Registration will take place from 1.30-2.00pm. The seminar will run from 2.00pm-5.30pm. It will be followed by a drinks reception from 5.30pm-6.30pm.
Format: The seminar will be run as a hybrid event enabling either in-person or virtual attendance. Please select the relevant option when booking.
Venue: Inner Temple, Crown Office Row, Temple, London EC4Y 7HL. Virtual attendees can join by Zoom (joining instructions will be sent to attendees a few days before the event).
Cost: The standard charge for this seminar is £160 + VAT per attendee for both in-person and virtual attendance.
By booking three delegates at the same time, you will automatically be entitled to a special rate of three delegates for the price of two. Bookings can be made via Eventbrite and payment can be made by credit card at the time of booking or later by BACS but must be received prior to the event. Booking confirmations and invoices will be sent from Eventbrite by email.
There are limited number of free places available for local authorities. Please contact Deirdre Mahon, Marketing Manager for more information.
In this 1 hour lunchtime webinar on Tuesday 3 June, Dr Christopher Ford (Director of Planwell), Martin Carpenter (Director of enplan) and Annabel Graham Paul (Barrister, FTB) will dive into datacentre planning in light of the Abbots Langley appeal decision.
These are critical issues facing local planning authorities and planning consultants advising not only datacentre developers but others who may be competing over the same pieces of land, as well as environmental and countryside interest groups. Currently, there is no national or local plan-led solution for where the need should be met as well as no centrally produced figure for data centre need in the UK leaving these big questions to be determined at LPA plan-making and individual decision-taking level.
There will be the opportunity for Q&A at the end.
This webinar will provide an update on costs in judicial review and practice and procedure points for those involved in public law litigation.
Chair: Stephanie Bruce-Smith
Speakers: Michael Feeney, Armin Solimani
Practical Details
Date: 4 June 2025
Time: 1-2pm
Venue: Online via Zoom
Cost: There is no charge to attend but places must be booked in advance using the booking link below. Confirmation details will be sent to registered attendees by Zoom.
Speakers: Andrew Fraser-Urquhart KC, Kate Olley
Date: 1 July 2025
Time: Registration from 4.15pm. Update from 4.30-5.30pm followed by a short drinks reception.
Venue: In person at Francis Taylor Building, Inner Temple, London, EC4Y 7BY and online via Zoom.
Cost: There is no charge to attend but in person places are limited and must be reserved in advance.
Booking: To attend in person, please complete this booking form or use the Book Now button below. To attend online, please use this booking link.