Rachel advises on a broad range of planning issues. Her expertise includes acting for promoters throughout the application and examination stages of Development Consent Orders, legal review of planning applications, and advising on complex infrastructure agreements.
In particular, she specialises in contentious planning matters, regularly advising on litigation, including planning appeals and judicial/statutory review.
Experience
Examples of experience includes advising:
- National Highways in promoting six of its DCOs for road improvement projects to implement the Road Investment Strategy, including legal review of key application documents such as plans, Consultation Report and Annexes and the Environmental Statement
- Solar 21 Renewable Energy Limited in promoting an Energy from Waste DCO, including drafting the DCO, legal review of application documents and supporting during the examination process
- National Highways as interested partyin relation tofourjudicial review claims againstthe Secretary of State for Transport's decision to grant development consent for National Highways' DCO road improvement projects
- The Department for Education in relation to planning appeals heard at public inquiries and hearings, including managing the appeal process, legal review of the appeal documents and advising on preparing evidence for inquiry
- Various developers, housebuilders, affordable housing providers and private landowners in drafting and negotiating section 106 planning agreements, unilateral undertakings and section 106A deeds of variation for housing developments and mixed use sites.
"Rachel Sykes' increased prominence in the planning market is due to the range of support she provides to clients. This spans from planning application reviews to issues pertaining to compulsory application powers."
Chambers and Partners – Associates to Watch
