Planning and Environment
Our Planning team has the experience, expertise and resources to provide commercial and practical solutions to a wide range of clients across the UK.
“They are phenomenal market leaders in this space.”
Chambers (2025)
Our Planning team was formally created in 1997 – making it as established as the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act. Today it is the largest in Scotland, in the top 10 by size in the UK, and for more than a decade has been ranked Tier 1 in Scotland by independent legal directories. The depth of our team’s expertise allows us to provide practical and strategic advice that helps our clients to navigate increasingly complex consenting regimes across the UK.
We are particularly well known for our market-leading involvement in two sectors: clean energy and housebuilding.
In the former we frequently advise on projects in offshore and onshore wind, biomass and biomethane, solar and clean hydrogen, and on grid and other matters for developers and transmission operators. When needed, we call on the expertise of experts in other parts of the firm, such as regulation or commercial contracts.
In the latter we have taken a leading role in helping the industry to deal with the national housing emergency, and with significant policy changes to the planning system’s treatment of housing requirements. We advise on development plan allocations, major applications, appeals and court challenges, and have particular expertise in contentious proposals. Working closely with our colleagues in real estate and construction, we deliver a seamless service to clients during the land acquisition and development process.
We are deeply embedded in both sectors. Actively involved with industry bodies, we use our ‘seat at the table’ to help influence the evolution of policy in order to speed up the consenting process and assist with the delivery of development.
We also represent clients in other key sectors, including food retailing, student and later living accommodation, waste management, food production and live entertainment for example.
Whatever the specific matter at hand, we aim to be an active part of your team: understanding the legal issues and the commercial perspective, and providing incisive advice that removes uncertainty. We have the resources and the expertise to do this quickly – and we understand that, in planning, every delay increases risk and can reduce opportunity, so responsiveness has real commercial value.
Meet our key contacts
Ewan MacLeod
Partner
Related articles and insights: Planning and Environment
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Onshore wind – Ambition is back but can the UK deliver at scale?
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24 October 2025
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Planning appeal fees in Scotland – new charges open to challenge?
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14 January 2025
Proposed reforms to consenting under the Electricity Act 1989 in Scotland
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3 December 2024
Carrots and sticks – improving energy efficiency of non-domestic buildings
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28 November 2024
Revitalising Scotland’s energy future: Labour’s commitments to streamlined offshore wind development
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Contact us
Ewan MacLeod
Partner
