Alex Minhinick Partner

Alex is a partner in the planning and compulsory purchase team, having trained and qualified with the firm in 2010.

He has particular experience in compulsory purchase claims, energy, power and utilities projects, infrastructure projects, and developments relating to mines and minerals. Alex acts on a wide range of projects for developers, landowners and local authority clients.

He is a Legal Associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute, a member of the Compulsory Purchase Association, and a representative for the firm at the Mineral Products Association. Alex regularly speaks at events and conferences, and publishes articles on a range of subjects in national publications.

• Acting for a range of companies on their claims for lost profits or business extinguishment arising out of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) affecting business premises.
• Acting for a listed manufacturing company in its claim for compensation under an agreement to sell a major mineral asset and manufacturing centre to a government agency. This involved conducting the reference by consent to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) to determine the compensation under the agreement which provided for the application of the compensation code.
• Acting for a mineral landowner and a separate mineral extractor in relation to their arbitration with statutory undertakers concerning the sterilisation of mineral reserves in Dorset. The arbitration involved the application of the compulsory purchase compensation code and the mining code, and included appeals to High Court under the Arbitration Act 1996.
• Advising the Isle of Anglesey County Council on the promotion of a highways CPO for significant works to the A5025 required to facilitate the redevelopment of Wylfa Newydd, a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
• Advising Highways England on the A417 'Missing Link' project, a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, and the application for a Development Consent Order which is expected to be made in 2021.
• Advising the Isle of Anglesey County Council on all aspects of National Grid’s proposed North Wales Connection Project, a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, for which the council will be a host authority.
• Advising RWE Innogy on obtaining a Development Consent Order for the Triton Knoll Electrical System; its 110km new grid connection for the Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm.
• Advising a major utility provider on its objection to a National Grid Development Consent Order providing for compulsory acquisition of rights over the utility’s land in the south west.
• Advising a water undertaker on the protection of its public water supply from proposed quarrying activities. This included advice on the undertaker's interactions with the local planning authority, and advice on a private operating agreement with the mineral operator.
• Advising Redrow on planning for 6,000 units urban extension to north west Cardiff, with full range of planning issues, including major section 106 agreement and complex transport issues. Discussions around viability and affordable housing formed a key part of the complex negotiations required to enable the release of the planning permission for the scheme. This was an ongoing joint instruction for the landowner and scheme promoter.
• Advising East Devon District Council on the development of Cranbrook, a new sustainable town to the east of Exeter, and other residential schemes in the local area.