High Court Dismisses Claim in Drax Challenge – Francis Taylor Building

‘Mr Justice Holgate has given judgment in ClientEarth’s judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision to make a development consent order for the construction of two gas-fired units, and related development, at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire (R (ClientEarth) v SSBEIS [2020] EWHC 1303 (Admin)).’

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Francis Taylor Building, 22nd May 2020

Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk

Legal case launched over UK’s ‘outdated’ energy policies – The Guardian

Posted May 19th, 2020 in climate change, energy, judicial review, news by sally

‘The government faces a legal challenge over a set of “outdated” energy policies which are being used to approve fossil fuel projects even after it vowed to end Britain’s contribution to the climate crisis.’

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The Guardian, 18th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Application to end draconian UKOG injunction banning peaceful protest at oil sites in Surrey and Sussex – Garden Court Chambers

‘Lawyers for five peaceful protestors, supported by the Weald Action Group, have applied to the High Court to bring an end to an interim injunction against protest at oil sites in Surrey and Sussex in line with a new Court of Appeal ruling.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 1st April 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

The Use (and Abuse) of Section 73 – Exchange Chambers

Posted February 14th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, energy, jurisdiction, local government, news, planning by sally

‘The procedure in Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 permits a developer to apply for planning permission to carry out development already authorised by an extant planning permission without complying with one or more of the conditions of that permission.’

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Exchange Chambers, 12th February 2020

Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk

Planning consent and community benefits – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Wind turbines can evoke strong feelings. To some they are vital and eye-catching sources of renewable energy. To others they are simply bird- and insect-destroying eyesores. But in granting planning consent, can a local authority have regard to a proposed annual donation to a local community fund? Would this be a material planning consideration? No, said the Supreme Court on 20 November in R (Wright) v Resilient Energy Severndale Ltd and Forest of Dean District Council [2019] UKSC 53. Lord Sales gave the judgment with which Lady Hale, Lord Reed, Lord Lloyd-Jones and Lord Thomas agreed.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd January 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK sued for approving Europe’s biggest gas power station – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2020 in climate change, energy, environmental protection, judicial review, news, planning by tracey

‘The UK government is being sued for approving a large new gas-fired power plant, overruling the climate change objections of its own planning authority.
The plant, being developed by Drax in north Yorkshire, would become the biggest gas power station in Europe and could produce 75% of the UK’s power sector emissions when fully operational, according to the environmental lawyers ClientEarth, who have brought the judicial review.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cabinet Office ignores court order to release secret fracking report – The Guardian

‘The Cabinet Office has defied a court order to release a secret government report on the UK’s fracking industry. Officials were expected to hand over the report on Monday, days before Britain’s first general election leaders’ debate on the climate crisis, after the information tribunal ruled it was in the public interest to disclose its findings in full.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Supreme Court to rule next week on community benefit fund donations and material considerations for granting planning permissions – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 18th, 2019 in appeals, energy, local government, news, planning, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court will next week (20 November) hand down an imporrtant ruling on whether a council was entitled to take into account as a material consideration, when granting planning permission, the offer of a community benefit fund donation.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Fracking: How The Police Response Is Threatening The Right To Protest – Rights Info

‘The UK government has announced an immediate moratorium on fracking. The decision came after new scientific analysis concluded it was not possible to “rule out future unacceptable impacts”.’

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Rights Info, 11th November 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

Posted November 7th, 2019 in bills, climate change, energy, environmental protection, fraud, news by sally

‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, William Upton QC and Mark Davies consider developments regarding the Environment Bill, leadership in the climate crisis and a case against Exxon Mobil in the US for improper forecasting of the cost of climate regulation to its business.’

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Six Pump Court, 6th November 2019

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Can my landlord lock my thermostat in a box? – BBC News

Posted November 6th, 2019 in energy, houses in multiple occupation, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘In a multi-occupancy dwelling like Alex’s, the landlord is permitted to control the heating, with no rules against boxing off the thermostat, experts say. The same is true of a standard rental property with fewer than three tenants, if the landlord pays the bills.’

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BBC News, 5th November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The problem with the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards Act 1954) – No. 5 Chambers

Posted October 31st, 2019 in energy, injunctions, news, warrants by sally

‘How interim injunctive relief can assist both individuals and businesses when locked in a dispute with their energy provider.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 23rd October 2019

Source: www.no5.com

Seahorses are to be given greater protection from oil drilling after a landmark High Court challenge – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 23rd, 2019 in animals, consultations, energy, environmental protection, judicial review, news by tracey

‘Seahorses are to be given greater protection from oil drilling off British coastlines after a landmark High Court challenge.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd October 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

When is a plant not a power plant? – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted August 1st, 2019 in construction industry, energy, news, statutory interpretation, waste by tracey

‘When it is a plant thermally treating waste. Or is it still a power plant? This was the question that Mr Jonathan Acton Davis QC had to grapple with in Engie Fabricom UK Ltd v MW High Tech Projects UK Ltd. As is often the case when it comes to the exclusions under section 105(2) of the Construction Act 1996, the answer was as clear as mud!’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 30th July 2019

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Legal Update: Section 73 Applications – No. 5 Chambers

Posted July 3rd, 2019 in energy, news, planning, road safety by sally

‘The planning permission is secured, the conditions are in place, now all that’s left is to commence development, right? Not necessarily. As planners you’ll be keenly aware that the road to development is not always smooth. Unexpected events occur, problems arise, and sometimes once permission has been obtained people are unable to comply with conditions or have a change of heart. Luckily, there are options available which do not necessarily mean going back to the drawing board.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 2oth June 2019

Source: www.no5.com

Anti-fracking activists breached injunction, judge rules – The Guardian

‘Three anti-fracking protesters have been found to have breached an injunction designed to stop them demonstrating outside a fracking site in Lancashire, which they say has a “chilling effect on the right to peaceful protest”.’

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The Guardian, 28th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cadent handed record £44m penalty after customers left without gas – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2019 in compensation, detention, duty of care, energy, inquiries, news by tracey

‘Ofgem takes action after tower block residents had no supplies for up to five months.’

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Persons unknown” injunctions against future protest action – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In Boyd & Anor v Ineos Upstream Ltd & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 515, the Court of Appeal handed down a fascinating judgment exploring the tension between the exercise of the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression and the protection of property rights.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 10th April 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Protesters hail legal victory over fracking firm’s injunction – The Guardian

‘Campaigners have hailed a legal victory against a multinational company that took out a “draconian and anti-democratic” injunction against protesters.’

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mixed fortunes for UK government in planning rulings – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government has successfully defended a legal challenge against its decision to adopt a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in England last year, but guidance contained in that framework concerning ‘fracking’ has been ruled to be unlawful.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th March 2019

Source: www.out-law.com