Practice Areas
Nick specialises in planning and infrastructure, compulsory purchase, and environmental law.
He has appeared in public inquiries and DCO examinations, the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court. He has appeared as sole counsel in each save for the Supreme Court. He also represented the United Kingdom (both led and unled) before the UN’s Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. He assisted with the Banner Review of legal challenges to NSIPs and is on the Attorney General’s C-panel.
Recent court work includes the Supreme Court decision in R (Finch) v Surrey County Council [2024] PTSR 988 (on the scope of EIA); the Court of Appeal decisions in CG Fry & Son Ltd v SSLUHC [2024] 2 P&CR 12 (on nutrient neutrality at condition discharge stage); SSLUHC v Caldwell [2024] EWCA Civ 467 (on the scope of the Murfitt principle) and AHGR v Kane-Laverack [2024] 2 P&CR 6 (on live/work permissions); and the High Court decisions in R (Clarke-Holland) v SSHD [2024[ PTSR 617 (challenges to the Wethersfield and Scampton asylum accommodation), Friends of the Earth v SSLUHC [2024] JPL 567 (part of the challenge to the Whitehaven coal mine) and Harlow DC v Powerrapid [2023] PTSR 1751 (on the scope of recoverable costs following a CPO inquiry).
Recent DCO and inquiry work includes: promoting the Morlais Tidal Stream Demonstration Zone; promoting the Sunnica Solar Farm DCO; resisting a 1700 home scheme in Alderholt, Dorset; and leading Natural England’s team during the Lower Thames Crossing DCO examination.