About

News & Insights

Our property and planning experience means that the DWD team are often involved in public events. Our consultants regularly contribute to conferences and events, talking on topics such as sustainability, energy and the need for large-scale developments.

The latest DWD news provides an insight into our activities and industry engagement.

News

6th September 2024

DWD win second public inquiry in 6 weeks for Big Yellow Self Storage to secure planning permission for the largest self-storage facility in Europe

DWD have secured planning permission on behalf of Big Yellow Self Storage after the Planning Inspectorate allowed an appeal following a four-day public inquiry in July. 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 […]

News

7th August 2024

Mallard Pass Solar Farm Granted Development Consent

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 […]

News

16th July 2024

DWD secure consent for 49.9 MW Solar Farm with 50 MW Battery Storage in Somerset

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 […]

News

11th July 2024

DWD secure planning permission at appeal for an employment-led mixed-use redevelopment scheme in Kentish Town

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 […]

Insights

9th July 2024

Labour 2024 – What does it mean for Planning & Housing Delivery?

Rachel Reeves gave her first speech as Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, July 8th 2024, describing reforming the planning system as “central” to the government’s political argument. Falling under one of the government’s three pillars for economic growth (stability, investment and reform), the new UK government have promised significant changes to the planning system – […]

Insights

3rd July 2024

Planning and policy reform – Party positions on the planning system and the types of reforms pledged

In part three of this series, we provide commentary to the Party positions on the planning system and the types of reforms that have been pledged associated with the energy and infrastructure sectors. Labour Labour’s manifesto starts boldly by stating that Britain is hampered by a planning regime that struggles to build the infrastructure or […]

Insights

We regularly share our insights and experience through a range of white papers and industry updates. These are available to our clients and contacts for download.

Insights

9th July 2024

Labour 2024 – What does it mean for Planning & Housing Delivery?

Insights

3rd July 2024

Planning and policy reform – Party positions on the planning system and the types of reforms pledged

Insights

1st July 2024

Future energy mix – Party positions on the future mix of the UK’s energy generation

In part two of this series, we consider the Party positions on the UK’s future energy mix to meet Net Zero by 2050. Labour Clean energy by 2030 is Labour’s second manifesto mission. Labour pledges to double onshore wind, triple onshore solar and quadruple the deployment of offshore wind by 2030 (against what baseline deployed […]

Insights

28th June 2024

Achieving legislated Net Zero by 2050

Compare and contrast: What do the party manifestos propose in relation to the energy and infrastructure sector? In this series, we summarise the positions each Party has taken on key energy and infrastructure topics. First, we consider what commitments, if any, the Parties have made to achieving the UK’s legislated target of Net Zero by […]

Insights

13th June 2023

What’s so ‘special’ about the local authorities threatened with special measures?

Post-pandemic, DWD’s experience is that many local authorities have struggled to deliver decisions within statutory timescales. There have been 10 local authorities who have been specially singled out for attention by the Secretary of State for their slow-decision-making. What is special about these authorities and what happens next if they are designated in June?

Insights

5th April 2023

DWD webinar #2: The Expert Report, Expert’s Meetings and Joint Statements

Our second Expert Witness webinar was hosted by property support Expert Witness team of Richard Greeves, Andrew Pilbrow and Peter Roberts. They discussed the Expert Report, Expert’s Meetings and Joint Statements. Understanding the implications and complexities around the The Expert Report, Expert’s Meetings and Joint Statements are crucial in property litigation. The team discuss how […]