Infrastructure
The planning and environment team at Cornerstone Barristers comprises ten silks and thirty two juniors. Collectively, we have considerable experience of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime of the Planning Act 2008 in the transport and energy fields, including promoting Development Consent Orders (DCOs), acting for host and neighbouring authorities, and acting for a wide range of interested parties, including affected landowners, businesses, and community groups.
We have acted for water companies in relation to regulatory compliance with Water Framework Directive obligations, environmental permitting, and Biodiversity Net Gain requirements for water resources infrastructure.
Recent Projects
North Falls Off-shore Wind Farm
DCO examination: 2025 • Decision due later in 2025
We acted for Suffolk County Council as neighbouring authority.
Sea Link Grid Reinforcement
DCO application submitted: April 2025 • Examination due to start November 2025
We are acting for Suffolk County Council as host authority.
Norwich to Tilbury Grid Reinforcement
DCO application submitted: August 2025 • Awaiting acceptance decision
We are acting for Suffolk County Council as host authority and have advised other parties on DCO issues.
Five Estuaries Off-shore Wind Farm
DCO examination: 2024/2025 • Decision: imminent
We acted for Suffolk County Council as host authority.
Norwich Northern Distributor Road
DCO examination: 2014 • Decision: June 2015
We acted for Norfolk County Council as the local highway authority promoting the DCO.
Gatwick Northern Runway Project
DCO examination: 2024 • Decision: September 2025
We acted for Surrey County Council, West Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council, and constituent districts as host and neighbouring authorities. We also acted for Communities Against Gatwick Northern Expansion.
Bramford to Twinstead Grid Reinforcement
DCO examination: 2023/2024 • Decision: September 2024
We acted for Suffolk County Council as host authority.
Sunnica Energy Farm
DCO examination: 2022/2023 • Decision: July 2024
We acted for Suffolk County Council and West Suffolk Council as host authorities.
A12 Chelmsford to A120 Widening Scheme
DCO examination: 2023 • Decision: January 2024
We acted for Maldon District Council as host authority.
Drax Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Project
DCO examination: 2023 • Decision: January 2024
We represented an NGO in a legal challenge.
Lower Thames Crossing
DCO examination: 2023 • Decision: March 2025
We acted for Gravesham Borough Council as host authority, and for affected landowners Runwood Homes and DP World London Gateway Ports.
Sizewell C Project
DCO examination: 2021 • Decision: July 2022
We acted for Suffolk County Council as a host authority.
Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing – now the Herring Bridge
DCO examination: 2019/2020 • Decision: September 2020
We acted for Norfolk County Council as the local highway authority promoting the DCO.
Lake Lothing (Lowestoft) Third Crossing – now the Gullwing Bridge
DCO examination: 2018/2019 • Decision: April 2020
We acted for Suffolk County Council as the local highway authority promoting the DCO.
HS2
We have been involved in HS2 since around 2017, acting for the Department for Transport on the High Speed Rail (Birmingham to Crewe) Act 2021 and the High Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill.
Norwich Northern Distributor Road
DCO examination: 2014 • Decision: June 2015
We acted for Norfolk County Council as the local highway authority promoting the DCO.
Speak to our team
If you are seeking experienced legal support for infrastructure planning or NSIP-related matters, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you. Contact us to discuss how we can support your project. Call us today on 020 7242 4986 or email us on clerks@cornerstonebarristers.com.