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Nicola Insley

Of Counsel

Portrait ofNicola Insley

Nicola Insley

Of Counsel

Contact
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
6 Queens Road
Aberdeen
AB15 4ZT
United Kingdom
Languages English

Nicola Insley is Of Counsel in our Planning Team. 

She has more than a decade of experience of advising on all aspects of planning law including strategic advice on nationally significant infrastructure projects, regeneration projects, judicial review, appeals and public inquiries, transactional due diligence, planning and highways agreements. Having previously worked as an academic, Nicola writes legal opinion pieces and specialises in providing complex and technical legal advice. 

Nicola’s clients include the major UK and International development and property and investment companies, government agencies/departments, sovereign wealth, energy providers, retailers, house builders, warehouse clubs, infrastructure companies and student accommodation providers.

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Relevant experience

  • National Grid Electricity Transmission in respect of their SEGL 1 and SEGL 2 projects. Advising on strategic matters including permitted development rights, environmental impact assessments and compulsory purchase powers.
  • British Steel Pension Fund who’s land interests were impacted by the compulsory purchase powers acquired in relation to the Lake Lothing Third Crossing Development Consent Order. This included making representations and appearing at the Compulsory Acquisition Hearing.
  • Berkshire Assets on a successful judicial review of a local authorities‘ refusal to grant prior approval pursuant to permitted development rights. This included challenging the emaning of an Article 4 direction issued by the same authority and subsequent successful costs claim.
  • R & F Ghangzhou on the regeneration of Vauxhall Square in South London including the inter-relationship between the new development and Network Rail infrastructure, advice on CIL, Section 106 agreements and highways issues.
  • Quintain on the development of its portfolio of residential-led tall mixed use buildings in Wembley Park, and associated highways infrastructure. This included complex work on the status of highways and seeking order to adjust highway boundaries.
  • SEGRO on the regeneration of the listed Nestle Factory in Hayes, as London’s leading „beds and sheds“ development. Making representations to support modifications to the London Borough of Brent’s development management policies.
  • Costco - strategic and development advice to this US Company on its warehouse club development portfolio in England and Wales.
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Expertise

Feed

21/02/2024
Introduction to Planning Law (Episodes 1-3)
In this series of Planning Ahead, we address Heritage & Conservation within the Planning System. Over three episodes, Nicola Insley introduces the key concepts planning law, discusses conditions vs s106 obligations and provides an overview of what you might expect from planning decisions, appeals and call-ins.
Publication
21/02/2024
Renewable energy consenting series
In this series of Planning Ahead, we discuss the process of consenting for Renewable Energy Developments. Over the course of three episodes, Nicola Insley, and later on Robert Garden, provide an overview of the different Consenting Regimes in the UK, with a particular focus on NSIPs and DCOs as well as key points to keep in mind to avoid application challenges and refusal.
Publication
21/02/2024
Heritage and conservation
In this series of Planning Ahead, we address Heritage & Conservation within the Planning System. In particular, Nicola Insley and Josh Risso-Gill discuss the regulatory restrictions placed on listed buildings and conservation areas, amending listed building statuses and what is involved when seeking planning permission where listed buildings are impacted. 
Publication
21/02/2024
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
In this series of Planning Ahead, we discuss Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). Nicola Insley and Kathryn Nolin provide an overview of EIAs, the typical problem areas (including how to address them) and the crucial information that is needed in any given impact assessment.
Publication
21/02/2024
Green belt
In this series of Planning Ahead, we focus on the Green Belt. Over three episodes, Nicola Insley and Josh Risso-Gill discuss the purpose of the Green Belt, the controls on development within these areas and provide details of what developers can achieve with Green Belt developments.
Publication
21/02/2024
Use Classes
In this series of Planning Ahead, we focus on Use Classes. Over three episodes, Nicola Insley and Mark McMurray provides an overview of Use Classes in England post-2020 and the current Use Classes & Permitted Development Rights in Scotland & England.
Publication
21/02/2024
Changing planning permissions
In this series of Planning Ahead, we look at amending Planning Permissions. In particular, Nicola Insley looks at how you might amend a permission and is joined in the final episode by Charles Banner KC to discuss how the recent Hillside judgement has changed case law on this topic. 
Publication
21/02/2024
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
In this series of Planning Ahead, we look at Biodiversity Net Gain (“BNG”). Over three episodes, Nicola Insley introduces this new requirement, provides an overview of how BNG will be delivered through units and credits and the challenges that may be faced from the implementation of BNG. 
Publication
21/02/2024
Affordable Housing
In this series of Planning Ahead, we look at Affordable Housing. Join us to see Nicola Insley provide an overview of affordable housing and, in the final episode, discuss the relationship of Affordable Housing and ‘alt resi-de­vel­op­ments’ with Martin Evans. 
Publication
21/02/2024
Highways
In this series of Planning Ahead, we look at Highways. Join us to see Nicola Insley provide an overview of Highways both in England and Scotland (alongside Erin Crawley), along with a discussion of Stopping Up orders and their impact on property rights. 
Publication
13/12/2022
Planning Ahead with CMS
Hosted by CMS Planning experts, this series looks at key topics in the planning sector, with a focus on breaking down complex topics into easily digestible 3-minute videos. We will explore each topic in a series of three episodes, pitched at Beginners (Part 1), Intermediate (Part 2), and Advanced (Part 3) to cover a wide variety of topics. Topics include: an Introduction to Planning Law, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and many more still to come so keep an eye on this page!
Publication
06/12/2022
CMS Real Estate webinar series 2022 – Returning to a new normal
This programme of webinars provides a short and incisive review of some key topics relating to real estate, health and safety, planning and construction in the United Kingdom.  Upcoming:6 December – Use...
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