We have advised on a range of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, offering strategic advice and acting as Expert Witness at the largest Development Consent Order (DCO) examinations undertaken to date, including Hinkley Point C, Sizewell and Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Our experience spans the infrastructure sector covering energy, transport and utilities, with projects including nuclear power stations, offshore wind farms, airport expansion and rail freight interchanges.
Quod is a recognised innovator within the infrastructure sector, having pioneered the use of the mitigation routemap in the DCO process which PINS now accepts as the best practice approach.
Matthew Sharpe is a board member of the National Infrastructure Planning Association and a number of the team at Quod are also active members of NIPA. John Rhodes also has been closely involved with policy formulation, working with MHCLG and PINs to seek further improvements to the DCO process. This includes advocating the expansion of the regime to include large scale housing-led developments. This work found its way into the Planning White Paper 2020.
We are also experienced in promoting major transport schemes through the Transport and Works Act Order process. We have also acted for London City Airport to secure consents for the airport’s expansion and acted as an expert witness for several energy from waste projects through the TCPA regime.
Unusually for a planning consultancy, Quod also has expertise in socio-economics and community infrastructure levy matters. Our work has been integral to limiting the impacts and optimising the benefits of the workforce and supply chain requirements of major projects. Quod often leads on the assessment of economic effects but also on developing strategies for recruitment, training, education and accommodation, as well as mitigating community impacts.
In our socio-economics team, Andrew Hunt has taken several large scale projects through the Examination process and is also a member of the expert panel of LSE’s What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth. Mike Humphrey is a leading practitioner in the development of impact assessment and mitigation measures in partnership with promoters and local stakeholders.
