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Portrait ofRobert Garden

Robert Garden

Of Counsel

Contact
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Cannon Place
78 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 6AF
United Kingdom
Languages English

Robert is Of Counsel in CMS’s planning team in London, with a specialism in energy and infrastructure projects. Robert joined CMS in 2010 and trained with the firm. Robert has particular experience in consenting offshore energy projects, and has a particular specialism in the promotion of Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and compulsory purchase orders (CPOs). 

Robert also provides strategic advice throughout the development process, including obtaining and optimising consents, and has a depth of experience in environmental impact assessment (EIA) and habitats regulation assessment (HRA). Robert also specialises in the delivery of major residential development, including the remediation and delivery of surplus land sites.

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Relevant experience

  • SSE and Equinor on the consenting of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the 2.4GW Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B offshore wind farms and the 1.2GW Dogger Bank C offshore wind farm.
  • National Grid Electricity Transmission plc on successfully securing its first DCO, a 400kV overhead electricity line to connect a 981MW power station to the electricity network. 
  • National Grid IFA2 Limited on the promotion of a 1GW electricity interconnector between the French and British transmission systems. 
  • Greenlink Transmission Pembroke Limited on the planning and CPO for a 500MW electricity interconnector between Ireland and Wales.
  • Frontier Power and Meridiam on the planning for a 1GW electricity interconnector between England and Germany.
  • Heathrow West Limited on the promotion of a DCO for its Heathrow West terminal and associated alterations to the M25 and local roads as part of Heathrow expansion.
  • SSE on the promotion of its Thatcham to Ashford Hill CPO.
  • National Grid and SGN on the decommissioning, remediation, demolition and redevelopment of a number of gasholder sites, including attendance at a public inquiry into the continuation of a hazardous substances consent.
  • Meadow Partners on the successful six-day planning inquiry for its 319 residential unit scheme comprising a 30 storey and 26 storey tower in London’s Docklands.
  • Berkeley Homes on a number of central London residential developments including Battersea Park East, Vista and West End Gate.
  • Taylor Wimpey  on a number of central London residential developments including the Music Box in Southward, Onyx in Camden and Battersea Exchange.
  • National Grid Property  on a number of residential developments including at Battersea, Fulham and Hornsey (schemes totalling greater than 4,000 units).
  • Value Retail plc on the planning for major expansion at Bicester Village.
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Education

  • 2010 - LPC (Distinction), College of Law, Guildford
  • 2009 – LLB (Hons), University of Exeter, Exeter
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Expertise

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29/01/2024
Nuclear Power Generation Beyond 2025: Consultation begins for a new National...
On 11 January, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) opened a consultation (see link here) seeking views on the proposed policy approach for a new nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS)...
23/01/2024
Changes to the Grid Connection Queue Management Process: The Planning Perspective
In a previous LawNow, we discussed the introduction of a change to the queue management process for grid connections (pursuant to CUSC Modification Proposal 376, approved by Ofgem on 13 November 2023)...
01/12/2023
Navigating the changes: An overview of updated Energy National Policy Statements
The National Policy Statements were originally designated in 2011. Further to consultation on proposed drafts earlier in the year, revised updates to the Energy National Policy Statements (NPSs) were...
07/09/2023
NPPF updates – Any way the wind blows…?
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is an important piece of UK Government policy, which sets out various planning policies for England and details how these should be applied by local planning...
07/08/2023
Faster consents and clearer benefits: UK Government’s initiative for electricity...
The UK government has initiated an ambitious plan to expedite the construction of power lines across the country, with the goal of halving the current development timeline. The urgency of this initiative...
03/07/2023
Habitat Regulations Assessments High Court Case – Implications for Planning
On 30 June 2023, the High Court handed down an important decision concerning the interpretation and application of the EU Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild...
12/06/2023
Solar farms – Clarity for consenting
The High Court has handed down an important decision concerning the definition of a ‘generating station’ within the Planning Act 2008 (‘the 2008 Act’) and the relationship between the consenting...
21/04/2023
Updates to the National Policy Statement for Electricity Transmission and...
EN-5 is the National Policy Statement which is specific to the electricity transmission and distribution network.EN-5 applies to:above ground electricity lines over 2km whose nominal voltage is expected...
19/04/2023
Solar and updated draft EN-3
As noted in our previous Law-Now which focussed on offshore wind (available here), EN-3 is the National Policy Statement which is specific to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) for...
11/04/2023
Hydrogen and the updated draft energy national policy statements
Further to our recent LawNow giving an overview of draft EN-1 (available here), this follow-on piece gives more of a direct insight to Hydrogen and how the Government envisages that it will contribute...
06/04/2023
Offshore wind and updates to EN-3
EN-3 is the National Policy Statement which is specific to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) for renewable energy generation (both onshore and offshore). EN-3 applies to the following...
05/04/2023
Updates to the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1)
The Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) sets out national policy for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in the energy sector. The Department for Energy Security...