Frances specialises in securing development consent for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) with a particular interest in compulsory acquisition and environmental mitigation. She acts on behalf of developers of NSIPs as well as interested parties (IPs) and statutory consultees.
In addition, Frances advises in respect of all aspects of town and country planning including planning obligations, highways agreements, planning appeals and Transport and Works Act orders.
Frances is a member of the Compulsory Purchase Association and previously sat on the Compulsory Purchase Associate Futures Committee. Frances is also a member of Women in Planning Yorkshire.
Experience
Examples of experience include advising:
- North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park Limited in relation to their application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for an energy from waste project in North Lincolnshire including advising in respect of the land acquisition strategy and providing advocacy at examination hearings
- National Highways in respect of DCOs for the A47 highway improvement schemes (four separate DCO applications), and applications for DCOs for the A12 Chelmsford to A120 Widening Scheme, A27 Arundel Bypass and A46 Newark Bypass schemes
- North Somerset Council on their successful application for a DCO to re-open the Portishead to Bristol branchline
- The affected local authorities on the implementation of the Hinckley Point C Development Consent Order and associated planning documents
- Cambridgeshire County Council on the promotion of Transport and Works Act Orders for Cambridge South East Transport (CSET) and the Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C) project
- Leeds City Council in relation to The Network Rail (Leeds to Micklefield Enhancements) Order 2024
- Three Rivers District Council on the making and confirmation of a Compulsory Purchase Order for a mixed use development and regeneration project in North London
- Guildford Borough Council in respect of land assembly for a Compulsory Purchase Order
- Network Rail in respect of the making of a stopping up order for a level crossing and subsequent challenge which was heard in the Court of Appeal
- Network Rail on the West Midlands Interchange including on the DCO process and related negotiations with the Applicant for a SRFI on the West Coast Main Line between Wolverhampton and Stafford.
