Major Infrastructure Projects

FTB is widely regarded as a pre-eminent set for infrastructure planning. 

FTB is widely regarded as a pre-eminent set for infrastructure planning. 

FTB members advise and represent clients on a wide variety of Infrastructure projects promoted under the Planning Act 2008, the Town & County Planning Act 1990, the Transport and Works Act 1992, the Electricity Act 1989, Transport & Works Act Orders or Parliament Bills.

FTB members act for promoters, local authorities, statutory consultees and other interested parties on all aspects of planning and compulsory purchase, compensation and land valuation issues where they arise.

FTB’s members work on Infrastructure projects covers Energy, Transport, Business and Commercial, Water, Waste Water sectors. Members work on a wide variety of schemes such as:

  • Railways, trams and guided bus ways
  • Airports
  • Bridges, tunnels and roads
  • Ports, harbours and marine energy parks
  • Electricity generation - nuclear, gas and renewables (including offshore wind farms, energy from waste, solar and tidal)
  • Electricity transmission and generation
  • Gas production
  • Underground gas storage
  • Pipelines
  • Carbon capture and storage facilities
  • Water infrastructure
  • Waste water treatment
  • Agriculture and rural affairs
  • Minerals and waste
  • Development plans and core strategies
  • Green Belt and open countryside 
09
Jul' 20
Secretary of State Grants First Ever Airport DCO at Manston in Kent

The Secretary of State for Transport has today granted development consent for the first Airport examined under the Planning Act 2008 regime. His decision paves the way for the reopening and development of Manston Airport, near Ramsgate, as a proposed dedicated air freight facility handling up to 10,000 air cargo movements per year.

Read more
22
Jan' 21
Court of Appeal Dismisses Drax Challenge

The Court of Appeal has handed down judgment in R (ClientEarth) v Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy [2021] EWCA Civ 43 – judgment available here.  

Read more

"First class for infrastructure planning." "Consistently high-quality individuals." "FTB is one of the leading barristers sets for planning; and the first port of call for all major planning infrastructure work."

Legal 500, 2024

"Francis Taylor Building is known as the leading Chambers for infrastructure planning work for a reason, they have the most experienced and generally most skilled barristers in this area of work. This applies equally to the KCs and also to the juniors in chambers. In particular, the juniors are very confident in their work and provide a very good and timely service".

Legal 500. 2023

"Very strong depth of experience, particularly in the area of infrastructure. All members are of a consistently high quality".

Legal 500, 2023

"FTB is one of the top planning sets, particularly on infrastructure work. Their breakfast briefings are well-known in the market and well-attended."

Legal 500, 2023

"These chambers have extraordinary strength-in-depth with a wealth of talented barristers."

Legal 500, 2022

"FTB have an abundance of talent, and when counsel of choice is unavailable we have never been disappointed with the alternatives offered."

Legal 500, 2022

"The clerks at Francis Taylor Building are absolutely superb and very quick to get back to you." "The team is very agile and very commercial in terms of their approach and you can discuss things based on client needs." "Paul Coveney, senior clerk, is streets ahead of other clerks; he understands the work and is strategic in his thinking. The clerking is excellent."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

"First class service. Attentive and flexible.’

Legal 500, 2022
09
Jul' 20
Secretary of State Grants First Ever Airport DCO at Manston in Kent

The Secretary of State for Transport has today granted development consent for the first Airport examined under the Planning Act 2008 regime. His decision paves the way for the reopening and development of Manston Airport, near Ramsgate, as a proposed dedicated air freight facility handling up to 10,000 air cargo movements per year.

Read more
22
Jan' 21
Court of Appeal Dismisses Drax Challenge

The Court of Appeal has handed down judgment in R (ClientEarth) v Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy [2021] EWCA Civ 43 – judgment available here.  

Read more
22
Apr' 24
Annual Infrastructure Seminar (Hybrid)

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: Hereward Phillpot KC

Speakers and Topics

•    Recent developments in solar – Mark Westmoreland Smith
•    DCO drafting – Michael Fry
•    The infrastructure (Wales) Bill 2023 – Annabel Graham Paul
•    Mitigation measures – Rebecca Clutten, Isabella Tafur
•    Caselaw update – James Pereira KC, George Mackenzie

Practical Infrormation

Date: Monday 22 April 2024.
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.

Book Now

King's Counsel

Simon Bird KC

Call: 1987 | Silk: 2009

Robert McCracken KC

Call: 1973 | Silk: 2003

Andrew Tait KC

Call: 1981 | Silk: 2003

Michael Humphries KC

Call: 1982 | Silk: 2003

Morag Ellis KC

Call: 1984 | Silk: 2006

Craig Howell Williams KC

Call: 1983 | Silk: 2008

Douglas Edwards KC

Call: 1992 | Silk: 2010

Gregory Jones KC

Call: 1991 | Silk: 2011

Suzanne Ornsby KC

Call: 1986 | Silk: 2012

James Pereira KC

Call: 1996 | Silk: 2014

Saira Kabir Sheikh KC

Call: 2000 | Silk: 2014

Andrew Fraser-Urquhart KC

Call: 1993 | Silk: 2015

Hereward Phillpot KC

Call: 1997 | Silk: 2015

Alexander Booth KC

Call: 2000 | Silk: 2016

Jeremy Phillips KC

Call: 2004 | Silk: 2018

Richard Honey KC

Call: 2003 | Silk: 2021

Meyric Lewis KC

Call: 1986 | Silk: 2023

Mark Westmoreland Smith KC

Call: 2006 | Silk: 2024

Junior Counsel

Philip Petchey

Call: 1976

Timothy Comyn

Call: 1980

Emyr Jones

Call: 1999

Kate Olley

Call: 1999

John Jolliffe

Call: 2005

Cain Ormondroyd

Call: 2007

Annabel Graham Paul

Call: 2008

Hugh Flanagan

Call: 2008

Rebecca Clutten

Call: 2008

Ned Westaway

Call: 2009

Isabella Tafur

Call: 2009

David Graham

Call: 2010

Michael Fry

Call: 2011

George Mackenzie

Call: 2011

Alexander Greaves

Call: 2012

Caroline Daly

Call: 2013

Charles Streeten

Call: 2013

Charles Forrest

Call: 2014

Merrow Golden

Call: 2014

Horatio Waller

Call: 2014

Daisy Noble

Call: 2015

Charles Merrett

Call: 2016

Esther Drabkin-Reiter

Call: 2017

Brendan Brett

Call: 2017

Conor Fegan

Call: 2018

Jonathan Welch

Call: 2019

Flora Curtis

Call: 2019

Michael Rhimes

Call: 2019

Michael Rhimes

Call: 2019

Mark O’Brien O’Reilly

Call: 2021, 2023 (Ireland)