DWD

DWD have recently had success in reducing the business rates assessment of the Gucci outlet at Bicester Village, resulting in savings for our client of over £1.74m. Further details can be found below: https://lnkd.in/gnJPn7V4

DWD are attending the two day Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage 2024 event 'Capturing a Net Zero Future' being held in Central Hall Westminster, London. Rob Booth will be attending on Tuesday 15th October 2024, followed by Colin Turnbull on the Wednesday 16th October 2024. Further details about the event and how to attend can be found here: https://www.ccus.events/ #CCUS24 #RSK

Lots of hugely interesting and relevant topics at this year’s The Joint Planning Law Conference in Oxford this weekend: development corporations, design codes, digital planning, net zero, zoning and the indispensable legal update. DWD Senior Associate Stephen Rose is attending, bow tie and dinner jacket at the ready.

DWD have acquired a 50,105 sq ft office building in Croxley Park on behalf of Health Services Laboratories (HSL) for a term of 16 years. For further information, please see the below link or contact Richard Greeves

Don't forget to sign up for our LinkedIn Live event with Cavendish at 11 am tomorrow where our Managing Director Neil Brooks will be discussing the challenges and opportunities related to communicating BESS, as well as what is required from the government and the industry to establish a stable future for battery storage. Also hear from: Chelsea Reilly - Account Director at Cavendish Colin Turnbull - Director at DWD Ben Kwok - Development Project Manager at RWE Renewables Sign up here today: https://lnkd.in/gYs3iCaD #LinkedInLive #BESS

DWD Enter the LGN Property 5k 2024   On Thursday evening, 12 members of DWD took part in the 2024 LGN Property 5k – our best turnout yet! The DWD team puts in an impressive performance despite the wet conditions and a tough competition from across the property industry.   We had a wonderful time, and well done to all participants! 

DWD have won their second public inquiry in 6 weeks to secure planning permission for Big Yellow Self Storage for what will be the largest self-storage facility in Europe. The scheme comprises the redevelopment of 66 Hammersmith Road immediately adjacent to the Future Olympia (formerly Olympia Exhibition Centre) development presently under construction. The proposal involves the replacement of the existing building with a new 11-storey building containing a self-storage facility, affordable workspace and a community space. Although 3 reasons for refusal were cited by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the principal reason debated at the inquiry related to the Council’s assertion that the development did not constitute the most efficient use of employment land. The Inquiry team comprised Simon Bird from Francis Taylor Building, Andrew Deller and Aimée Whitehead from DWD (Planning), Barney Stringer from Quod (Socio-economic matters), Chris Elliott from Rappor (Highways matters) and Anna Ryten from Mountford Pigott (Design), with additional late input from Liam Dunford from Point 2 (Daylight/sunlight) and Richard Coleman from Citydesigner (Heritage/townscape). Further information can be found below, including a link to the appeal decision. https://lnkd.in/e-p6uf9y

DWD is delighted to announce that the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has granted development consent for the Mallard Pass Solar Farm in Lincolnshire and Rutland, a landmark decision made on Friday, 12th July. This approval is a significant milestone for renewable energy in the UK, and for the developer Windel Energy and Recurrent Energy, paving the way for the construction of one of the country's largest solar farms with a capacity of 350MW. As the lead planning consultant, DWD played a pivotal role in navigating the complex planning process, ensuring that all regulatory and environmental requirements were addressed. This achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of an exceptional team of consultants, each bringing their specialized expertise to the project, including LDA Design, Counter Context Ltd, Ardent, Humbeat and Pinsent Masons. Along with a strong collaborative engagement with al host authorities, thank you to Rutland, Lincolnshire and South Kesteven planning officers for continued engagement throughout the process. Following the initial excitement, we wanted to share some of the highlights from the Mallard Pass DCO decision, which include the following – The ExA fully endorsed our flexible approach to site sizing and selection, recognizing the importance of grid connection as a key factor. They supported the exclusion of mitigation and enhancement areas in calculating the generating capacity by hectare and confirmed there's no need to consider smaller sites that wouldn't deliver the required capacity. Our soil surveys and mitigation measures received positive feedback, indicating minimal impact on food production. While the decision noted moderate negative weight on BMV land impacts, our evidence was deemed satisfactory. The urgent need for utility-scale solar PV to meet net zero goals was acknowledged, with substantial positive weight given to the project's carbon benefits. The 60-year time limit was approved, along with added safeguards to ensure environmental protection. The ExA recognized our landscape-led design and mitigation efforts, despite some disagreements on LVIA and PRoWs assessments. Other notable points include the decision against requiring a financial bond and the enhanced requirements for land access and temporary possession notices. Land Assembly and Compensation Advice was also provided by Peter Roberts. This decision underscores our team effort - a big thank you to everyone involved in making this project a success! Sarah Price, Jonathan Harris, Emma-Jane Hayward, Lucy Freeman #MallardPass #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Infrastructure https://lnkd.in/g2mHKcyS

  DWD is pleased to have secured planning permission on behalf of Low Carbon for the development of Bluebell Wood Solar Farm including battery storage on land southeast of Bradford Road, Rode, in the Somerset Council area (formerly Mendip District Council). The approved solar farm will provide up to 49.9MW of solar energy capacity and 50MW of battery storage, Low Carbon’s largest battery consented under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to date. The Scheme is able to power over 16,000 homes per annum which is more than a third of the former Mendip District’s annual residential requirement and 6.6% of the newly formed area of Somerset Council’s annual residential requirement. DWD led on the planning from the pre-application stage, including EIA Screening, all the way through to the application before being recommended for approval by the planning team ahead of the Somerset Planning Committee (East). Resolution to grant planning permission was made by the Somerset Planning Committee (East) on 11 July 2024. In putting the planning application together and achieving approval, DWD helped coordinate the design of the scheme. Key considerations included protecting particular views through the Site and providing effective screening from the vantage points around the Site, having sufficient setbacks from heritage assets as well as negotiating appropriate solutions relating to site access and highways safety, flood risk, drainage, battery safety management, and ecology. Significant on-site biodiversity net gains of 50.57% habitat units, 19.25% hedgerow units and 17.15% river units will also be achieved by the proposals. For more information, please contact Chloe Desgrand or Rob Booth. #Solar #RenewableEnergy #BatteryStorage #Sustainability #Planning https://lnkd.in/gDwT9y6d

DWD have secured planning permission on behalf of Big Yellow Self Storage after the Planning Inspectorate allowed an appeal following a five-day public inquiry in May 2024. The scheme comprises the redevelopment of Alpha House on Regis Road within a central part of the Regis Road Growth Area – one of six strategic areas to which growth within the borough is to be delivered. The proposal involves the replacement of the existing building with a new five-storey building containing a self-storage facility and flexible office space. Although 10 reasons for refusal were cited by Camden Council, the principal reason debated at the inquiry related to the Council’s assertion that the development constituted ‘piecemeal’ development that would prejudice the Council’s aspirations for the comprehensive redevelopment of the Growth Area. The Inquiry team comprised Isabella Tafur, Andrew Deller, Peter Roberts, Aimée Whitehead, David Scanlon and Barney Stringer. Further information, including the appeal decision, can be found on the below post: https://lnkd.in/g5N9Vz-w