Addleshaw Goddard’s planning team is helmed by Glasgow-based Sarah Baillie, who offers consenting expertise in the renewables, development, and infrastructure sectors. The group’s recent instructions include battery storage, hydrogen projects. and retail park acquisitions. The department includes planning law specialist Fiona Gordon, a legal director who handles a mix of contentious and non-contentious issues including judicial reviews, compulsory purchases, and environmental impact assessments, particularly in the retail, residential, and energy sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Sarah Baillie is widely experienced in planning law and practice and in related areas such as compulsory purchase. She works effectively and efficiently with her team to produce the desired outcome. This is done in a relaxed manner which inspires client confidence.’
‘Proactive, positive, pragmatic and generally good to deal with. Strong capabilities across their areas of expertise and with specific specialisms in the energy and infrastructure sectors.’
‘Sarah Baillie and Fiona Gordon's diligent approach and attention to detail are impressive.’
‘This team has always been available for advice on complex planning matters, including taking the time to familiarise themselves with the unique regulatory position of our business. They will go above and beyond to ensure the advice provided is fit for purpose and will work all hours to deliver the advice in time to prevent delays. ’
‘Sarah Baillie provides timely and accurate advice whilst making it her priority to ensure the intricacies of the planning regimes for our specific and unique position in the energy sector are fully understood and followed. She puts herself into the shoes of our company to deliver the specific advice needed.’
Key clients
- SSEN Transmission plc
- SSE Renewables
- SSE Thermal plc
- M&S Property Y
- Scotland Gas Networks plc
- Scotia Gas Network plc
- Alcemi Storage Developments UK Group of Companies
- Scottish National Investment Bank
- Aldi Stores Limited
- Robertson Property
- Redrock Power
- Greenvolt Power
- Dandara
- ERG
- Clackmannanshire Council
- Strawson Holdings
- AEG
- Highlands & Islands Airports Limited
- Murray Group
- Realty
- Engi
Work highlights
- Advised Alcemi Storage Developments Limited on securing consents for three large-scale energy storage projects, totaling 2GW capacity under the S36 regime, including a world-first project of its type and scale in 2023/24.
- Supported SGN plc with planning and consenting for existing gas pipelines and pioneering hydrogen infrastructure, along with enforcement, compulsory purchase orders, roads law, storage, and transmission issues.
- Represented Strawson / Omnivale Limited in a successful appeal decision for a key site in Dunfermline in 2023, overturning the Council's policy on developer contributions as unlawful, marking a significant test case in the market.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Sarah Baillie