Landmark barristers Stephen Whale and Matthew Dale-Harris provide a podcast that covers the Government’s recent Nature Recovery Green Paper on protected sites and species.

The discussion addresses the protection of wildlife sites, delivering “30 by 30”, protecting species and delivering nature recovery.  Stephen and Matthew consider, amongst other issues, the implications for environmental law and planning law of the proposed fundamental changes to the EIA and HRA regimes, the possible disappearance of terms such as SAC, SPA and SSSI, dormant SSSI consents, the role of woodlands in nature recovery and the likely streamlining of the numerous Arms Length Bodies.

Stephen Whale and Matthew Dale-Harris, as well as other Landmark Barristers, offer further information on National Parks, AONBs, planning law and rights of way in their book “A Practical Guide to Planning Law and Rights of Way in National Parks, the Broads and AONBs”. For more information on their book, please follow this link.

The DEFRA consultation exercise on the green paper closes on 11 May 2022, and you may participate in this via: Nature Recovery Green Paper: Protected Sites and Species - Defra - Citizen Space 

Landmark barristers Stephen Whale and Matthew Dale-Harris provide a podcast that covers the recent developments in the following topics: The Glover Report, National Parks and AONBs, the Government’s response to the Landscapes review and the DEFRA consultation exercise.  They also discuss the proposed renaming of ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ to ‘National Landscapes’.

The discussion on the Government’s response highlights the experience of NPs and AONBs during the lockdowns, the Government’s commitment to protecting 30% of the U.K.’s land by 2030 and the 25-year environment plan, and the complexity of interactions between people and nature.  Furthermore, housing in NPs and AONBs is discussed, emphasising the imminent importance of a minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain as a pre-condition for planning permission.

Stephen Whale and Matthew Dale-Harris, as well as other Landmark barristers, offer further information on AONB, National Parks and Planning Law in their book “A Practical Guide to Planning Law and Rights of Way in National Parks, the Broads and AONBs”.  For more information on their book, please follow this link.

The DEFRA consultation exercise on the Government’s response to the Landscapes Review closes on 9 April 2022 and you may participate in this by following this link.


Acronyms:

AONB = Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
LPA= Local Planning Authority
NPA = National Park Authority
NPPF = National Planning Policy Framework
SAC = Special Area of Conservation
SPA = Special Protection Area
SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest
TRO = Traffic Regulation Order

Landmark barristers David Blundell QC, Miranda Butler and Richard Turney have produced a podcast on standing in light of the very recent, and extremely significant, decision of the Divisional Court in the Good Law Project's challenge to the Government’s practice in making appointments to important public health agencies during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

This podcast gives an overview of the approach to standing in judicial review; a detailed overview of the decision in the Good Law Project challenge; and case law on the link between standing and timing in judicial review.

Planning barristers Sasha White QC and Anjoli Foster discuss their experiences of holding planning inquiries online and share their views on whether inquiries and conferences should continue to be held online or whether we should return to the times of these being held completely in person.

The discussion touches on the implications for the quality of advocacy, the presentation of evidence and the questioning of witnesses, accessibility, cost and - importantly - whether the advent of more online interactions might help to advance equality within the profession given that less travelling and less staying away from home makes it easier to juggle caring responsibilities at home and other commitments.