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Robert Garden
Partner

Robert Garden

London, United Kingdom
Languages
  • English
Social media

Robert is a Partner 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, electricity transmission and hydrogen projects, and has a particular specialism in the promotion of Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and compulsory purchase orders (CPOs). Robert also advises promoters on planning appeals, notably on energy storage and solar matters, and provides advocacy both in DCO examinations and at appeal. Robert has a particular focus on clean energy and strategic planning matters.

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 has advised on a number of derogation cases under the HRA legislation and has contributed to industry wide guidance. Robert also specialises in the delivery of major residential development, including the remediation and delivery of surplus land sites.

Relevant experience

  • Advocate on successful planning appeals for SSE Renewables on two solar farm appeals, the 49.9MW Knapthorpe Solar Farm and the 49.9MW Muskham Solar Farm.
  • Advocate on successful planning appeal for Statera Energy for the 500MW East Claydon battery storage scheme.
  • 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.
  • National Grid Electricity Transmission plc on the successful promotion of a CPO, planning consents and marine licence for its 2GW EGL1 Project.
  • Equinor on the promotion of a DCO for its Humber Hydrogen Pipeline project.
  • National Grid Ventures on the promotion of a DCO for its LionLink interconnector project, the UK’s first multi-purpose interconnector.
  • Cadent Gas Limited on the promotion of a DCO for its HyNet Northwest Hydrogen Pipeline, the first distribution scale hydrogen pipeline.
  • National Gas Transmission plc on the consenting strategy for Project Union, the proposed hydrogen transmission backbone.
  • National Grid Electricity Transmission plc on the promotion of a CPO, planning consents and marine licence for its 2GW EGL2 Project.
  • Cadent Gas Limited on the successful promotion of a CPO for its Ulverston project, Cadent’s first CPO and the first CPO in England for a gas distribution network.
  • SSE on the successful planning appeal for a transmission scale energy storage scheme.
  • 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.

Memberships & Roles

  • Compulsory Purchase Association
  • National Infrastructure Planning Association
  • The Infrastructure Forum

Speaking Contributions

  • Robert regularly presents to clients and the sector on planning matters, and often speaks at conferences and webinars on clean energy, hydrogen, planning, HRA and EIA matters. Robert is a leading voice in the hydrogen sector, regularly hosting and speaking at Waterfront’s Planning for Hydrogen webinars and conferences.

Industry Contributions

Education

  • 2010 - LPC (Distinction), College of Law, Guildford
  • 2009 – LLB (Hons), University of Exeter, Exeter
Practice Areas
Real Estate Planning

Insights by Robert

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Repowering UK Onshore Wind: Navigating the Planning and Consenting Landscape

13 Feb 2026 12 min read
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Delivering AI Growth Zones: Reducing Barriers for AI Data Centres

26 Nov 2025 5 min read
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Energy NPS Updates: Key Changes Following Government Consultation

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