Richard Thurling
Legal Director
Areas of focus
Bio
Richard has worked in both the public and private sector, advising on all types of planning matters from planning applications, Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) to planning appeals and enforcement matters. Based in our Birmingham office, Richard works for a range of clients including highway authorities, leading house builders, registered providers, landowners, education institutions and universities, local authorities, and energy providers.
Career and recognition
Richard is a qualified solicitor and a member of the National Infrastructure Planning Association.
Richard was shortlisted for the real estate leading individual (outside London) 2020 is a highly recommended individual for planning law in the Legal 500.
Bio
Richard has worked in both the public and private sector, advising on all types of planning matters from planning applications, Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) to planning appeals and enforcement matters. Based in our Birmingham office, Richard works for a range of clients including highway authorities, leading house builders, registered providers, landowners, education institutions and universities, local authorities, and energy providers.
Career and recognition
Richard is a qualified solicitor and a member of the National Infrastructure Planning Association.
Richard was shortlisted for the real estate leading individual (outside London) 2020 is a highly recommended individual for planning law in the Legal 500.
Experience
Experience
- Secured the A57 Link Roads Development Consent Order on 16 November 2022. Richard advised on all areas of the consenting process during examination including the drafting of the DCO, advocacy at hearings and the negotiation of protective provisions and side agreements with key stakeholders such as statutory undertakers and the acquisition of land held by the Crown. Richard is retained to provide legal support for implementation of the project.
- Successfully secured the Development Consent Order for the M54 to M6 Link Road which was granted consent on 21 April 2022. Richard advised on all areas of the consenting process including advocacy at hearings during the examination process. Specialist advice included measures required to prevent Special Parliamentary Procedure being invoked, the status of land as Crown Land and the delivery of mitigation land for biodiversity. Richard and the Gowling planning team are retained to provide legal support for implementation of the project.
- South Tees Development Corporation on the successful confirmation of the South Tees Development Corporation (Land at the Former Redcar Steel Works, Redcar) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019 being one of the largest CPOs in England by area at 4,500 acres to the South of the River Tees. Richard negotiated with major objectors to the scheme, completed asset protection agreements and advised the development corporation on existing proprietary issues.
- National Highways on compensations claims submitted by claimants following the construction of the A556 Knutsford to Bowdon DCO. Richard has advised on tactics to reduce the value of the claim, settled the acquiring authority's statement of case, position statement, directions and appeared on behalf of National Highways at hearings. He has also prepared a tripartite Deed of Easement to formalise rights required by National Highways and other parties to reduce the elements of the claim in dispute.
- Richard was an integral part of the team that successfully secured the Development Consent Order for a new rail freight terminal off junction 24 of the M1. The development comprised 6,000,000 sq ft of warehousing, a new rail line and terminal, extensive highway improvements to the M1 and a new relief road around the village of Kegworth. Richard advised on the examination process, on the preparation of project documentation in accordance with prevailing policy for strategic rail freight interchanges and audited the Environmental Impact Assessment. Acting for a private promotor required additional consideration in respect of supplementary consenting regimes such as the need for separate highways agreements which informed the drafting of the DCO. Project management was provided throughout the examination period and extended to the drafting of the DCO and Development Consent Obligation (s106 agreement) together with associated side agreements with Parish Councils and landowners.
- Richard formed part of the legal team that secured a Development Consent Order for the creation of a new harbour in Redcar to serve a new York Potash mine and mineral extraction facility. Advice included the preparation of application material in accordance with prevailing planning policy and good practice including preparing the Development Consent Order and supporting Development Consent Obligation (s106 agreement) and side agreements with interested parties. The project included an thorough optioneering process to identify the best route for the linear conveyor belt required to run from the material handling facility to the harbour, which crossed significant utility interests.
- Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal required a Development Consent Order for the delivery of an extension to the existing rail freight terminal. The project included the creation of new rail, warehousing and road infrastructure. Richard provided support in respect of agreements with landowners and procedural compliance with the making of the DCO to reduce the risks of legal challenge.
Career & education
Career & education
Languages
English
