February 2014 saw the launch of new guidelines for judges and magistrates aimed at increasing the penalties for serious environmental offenders.

Given that the Dover Straits Port Group, including the Channel Tunnel, currently handles 66% of all freight vehicles heading for mainland Europe from the UK, the Calais region is critical in providing the main cargo link between the UK and Continental Europe.

Opponents to HS2, including residents' groups and 15 local councils challenged the London-Birmingham section of the new line on seven different grounds, all of which were dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

The Secretary of State has issued his long awaited decision on Helioslough’s appeal against St. Albans City & District Council.

Today the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change granted development Consent for the Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm in Wales.

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has today granted development consent to E.On Renewables for the Rampion offshore wind farm.

Construction looks set to begin on the Meygen tidal energy Project off the coast of Caithness in Scotland next month after conditions were finalised in order to initiate the first drawdown from financiers (Crown Estate and Scottish Enterprise).

Since its introduction in March 2012 the coalition Government’s flagship National Planning Policy Framework (‘NPPF’).

The government has laid before parliament the Infrastructure Planning (Radioactive Waste Geological Disposal Facilities) Order 2015.

The Court of Appeal have ruled that a landowner can be held criminally liable for a breach of the environmental permitting regulations carried out on their land by a third party where they have knowledge of the regulated act taking place.

On the 12th September 2013, the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (‘DECC’), Ed Davey, opened a public consultation on the (re-opening of the) siting selection process for the proposed Geological Disposal Facility (‘GDF’); as part of the government’s Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (‘MRWS’) programme, a plan that originally began in 2008 and had encountered significant setbacks.

Following a consultation on improving the process of finding a site to host a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), the Government published a White Paper on 24th July 2014.

In January 2014, ONR introduced Annex 2 to their Technical Assessment of REPPIR Submissions and the Determination of Detailed Emergency Planning Zones.

Government approval has been granted for eight major renewable energy projects which are expected to create up to 8,500 new jobs.

As a newly qualified solicitor, I joined the nuclear industry in 1994 to advise on planning and environmental law. Since 1994, much has changed in the industry.

Applicants are required under the Planning Act to have regard to this guidance during the pre-application stage of an application for Development Consent.

Dry Fuel Store At Sizewell B Nuclear Power StationThe UK's first Dry Fuel Store is currently under construction at Sizewell B nuclear power station, Leiston, Suffolk.

The Planning Inspectorate accepted Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay’s application for development consent for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

How can you simplify the enormously complex process of decommissioning a nuclear power station?

The Court of Appeal has overturned the High Court’s ruling in the case of Redhill Aerodrome Ltd v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.