Sophie specialises in infrastructure planning, public law and legislative drafting, in particular the authorisation of major infrastructure projects under the Planning Act 2008.

These include schemes in the energy, transport and airport sectors. Sophie advises promotors and objectors on all aspects of the consenting process, helping to guide them through pre-application and consultation processes and examination of the application. Her experience includes scheme development and consenting strategy, consultation, advice on complex environmental and engineering matters, advising on the DCO examination process and advocating at DCO hearings, and negotiating third party agreements.

 

She is experienced in drafting and advising on the interpretation of primary and secondary legislation.

Sophie also advises local authorities on the promotion of clean air zones and the use of traffic regulation orders and landowners in relation to BNG.

She was a founding member of the National Infrastructure Planning Association Early Years Practitioners network. 

Jurisdiction: New Zealand , England & Wales

Experience

  • Lead member of the team on the DCO application for a 102MW energy from waste facility
  • Advising on DCO proposals
  • Advising a local authority in relation to the use of traffic regulation orders to reduce car trips
  • Advising a large landowner on developing their farms for nutrient neutrality credits and BNG habitat banks including drafting section 106s