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Planning and Environmental

Our Planning and Environmental team is widely experienced in providing advice to public authorities in respect of the exercise of their planning and licensing functions. We are adept at providing concise and timely advice in all aspects of planning and environmental, administrative and European law.

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Why choose our Planning and Environmental solicitors?

We provide practical and strategic advice to statutory planning and environmental bodies on the performance of their statutory functions, their role as decision makers and their management of licensing applications. We also advise on compliance with licences, including initiating enforcement actions where there are breaches of licences or other statutory requirements.

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In addition, the team has vast litigation expertise at all levels, from the lower Courts to the Superior Courts. We have a proven track record of defending judicial review challenges on behalf of public bodies in relation to a wide variety of matters, including planning decisions, development plans, industrial emissions licences and waste licences, at High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Court of Justice of the European Union level.

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Some specific areas on which we have advised include:

  • The functions of An Bord Pleanála and the Environmental Protection Agency ('EPA')  under the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), and the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. 
  • Applications under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 ("the SID Act"), including representing An Bord Pleanála in Callaghan v An Bord Pleanála 2016/324 JR.
  • Applications under the Planning and Development (Housing and Residential Tenancies) Act 2016 ("the SHD Act"), including the successful defence of An Bord Pleanála's decision in Morris v An Bord Pleanála 2020 No. 470 JR.
  • Applications for substitute consent under Part XA of the Planning and Development Act 2000. We acted for An Bord Pleanála in the seminal judgment of An Taisce v An Bord Pleanála 2019/09 JR.
  • Habitats protection under the EIA/Habitats Directives and associated regulations.
  • Waste disposal and hazardous waste management. We have acted for the EPA in numerous prosecutions under the Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended). 
  • Drinking water, water services and waste water treatment.
  • Air quality, climate change and emissions licensing. 
  • Radiological protection, renewable energy and aquaculture.  

Fieldfisher’s practical and client focussed approach to the provision of legal advice in the planning and environmental sphere ensures a fully integrated service from legal specialists that guarantees the highest standards of client service.


Key Areas of Practice

  • Planning Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Judicial Review
  • Administrative Law
  • European Law
  • Planning and environmental enforcement 
  • Freedom of Information and Access to Information on the Environment
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA)

Key contacts

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