Overview

Our specialist lawyers provide legal advice on all aspects of highway planning, practice and procedure. Acting for developers and landowners, we have expertise in planning related to highway law and public rights of way.

We have extensive experience working with local highway authorities such as Highways England (formerly the Highways Agency). This collaboration allows us to advise our clients on the promotion and delivery aspects of highway planning. We also have a firm understanding of relevant legislation, including the Highways Act 1980, the Planning Act 2008 and using compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers when necessary.

Our highway planning advice includes the stopping up and diversion of highways to enable developments to proceed. Our lawyers help to draft and negotiate agreements under the Highways Act for the construction and dedication of highways. We also act for landowners in the modification of Definitive Maps, to include or exclude public rights of way.

Areas of focus

Our expertise in highway planning and law concerning public rights of way includes the following:

  • Highway improvements for various specialist industry clients.
  • Promotion of highway developments on behalf of local authorities.
  • Nationally Significant Development Applications for highways.
  • Securing stopping up orders and advising on diversions for highway development.
  • Dealing with Compulsory Purchase Orders for highway schemes.
Experience

Advising Isle of Anglesey Council on major highway improvement works required in association with the delivery of a new nuclear power station (Wylfa Newydd).

Acting for two local authorities jointly promoting a major new 5km highway utilising the powers in the Highways Act 1980 including CPO.

Acting for Highways England in relation to its first application for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project in relation to the A19/A1058 Coast Road scheme in North Tyneside.

Acting for a landowner in successfully resisting an application to include a restricted byway on the Definitive Map including undertaking the advocacy at inquiry.

Advising a charity on a number of highway issues including securing stopping up orders and on the dedication and adoption of land in unknown ownership as highway in order for an assisted living scheme to be delivered.

Acting for Pembrokeshire County Council on the delivery of a new bypass at Maiden Wells including acting as advocate at the Compulsory Purchase and Side Roads Order Inquiry.

Meet the team
Gary Soloman

Gary Soloman Partner

  • Head of Planning and Compulsory Purchase
  • Regeneration and Highways
  • Compulsory Purchase and Compensation
Julian Boswall

Julian Boswall Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Planning and Compulsory Purchase
Elizabeth Dunn

Elizabeth Dunn Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Real Estate
Patrick Robinson

Patrick Robinson Consultant

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Planning and Compulsory Purchase

What others say...

The planning team at Burges Salmon is professional, proactive and responsive.
Chambers UK 2022

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