Major infrastructure projects

Issues faced by clients

Public and private bodies seeking to promote and construct a major infrastructure work, whether a heavy or light railway, port development, highway, bridge, or other project, need comprehensive and up to date advice on the array of consents required and an in-depth and proactive approach in dealing with the range of environmental considerations that are an increasingly key aspect of any significant scheme.

Promoters of projects also need to ensure that objectors' concerns are taken into account and to consider how those concerns might best be addressed.

In most cases, the case for the infrastructure project will need to be successfully proved at a public local inquiry for which careful preparation will be necessary.

How we can help

Members of the Parliamentary team have considerable expertise in the promotion of infrastructure projects, including nationally significant railway schemes and projects that make provision for both public and private transport. They are experienced in dealing with applications that involve multiple consent regimes and advising clients on the best approach to deliver the project.

We advise our clients on preparing the applications for the requisite consents and throughout the lead up to and during the inquiry, including advising on environmental legislation, consultation strategies and liaison and negotiation with objectors and the procedures and day to day running of the inquiry itself. As part of the Eversheds' firmwide legal team, we are able to offer our clients a 'one stop shop' in dealing with every aspect of a large project, from consents to property issues, from procurement to corporate finance.

The Parliamentary team includes 'Roll A' Parliamentary Agents who are able to promote private legislation through Parliament. Where a project or an element of a project, cannot be promoted in any other way, a private or a hybrid Bill may offer an effective means of obtaining the necessary consent for a large scheme.

Contact us

Stephen Collings, Partner

+44 207 919 4787
E-mail Stephen Collings

Areas of experience

Eversheds Sutherland is the name and brand under which the members of Eversheds Sutherland Limited (Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP) and their respective controlled, managed and affiliated firms and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe) Limited (each an "Eversheds Sutherland Entity" and together the "Eversheds Sutherland Entities") provide legal or other services to clients around the world. Eversheds Sutherland Entities are constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local regulatory and legal requirements and operate in accordance with their locally registered names. The use of the name Eversheds Sutherland, is for description purposes only and does not imply that the Eversheds Sutherland Entities are in a partnership or are part of a global LLP. The responsibility for the provision of services to the client is defined in the terms of engagement between the instructed firm and the client.