Judicial Review

Europe’s Scaling Renewable Energy Pipeline: Growth, Complexity and the Challenge of Delivery

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Renewables

Europe’s renewable energy pipeline is expanding at an unprecedented pace. Across key markets including Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and France, governments are accelerating deployment through policy reform, tender programmes and structured allocation mechanisms.

This momentum reflects a clear strategic priority: to meet climate targets and secure long-term energy resilience.

However, as the pipeline scales, so too does the complexity of delivering projects on the ground.

Judicial Review Reform in Ireland: A Structural Shift with Material Implications for Development Risk

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The Irish Government’s proposed Civil Reform Bill 2025 represents one of the most significant overhauls of civil litigation in decades. At its core sits a fundamental reconfiguration of judicial review, a mechanism which has long been central to planning, infrastructure, and environmental disputes.

For lawyers advising on development risk, the reforms are both commercially material and legally nuanced. They promise greater procedural certainty and speed, yet have prompted notable concern within the legal community regarding access to justice and the recalibration of long-established principles.

Infrastructure Planning Reform 2026: What the New Regulations Mean for Major Commercial Projects

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The Infrastructure Planning (Business or Commercial Projects) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which came into force on 8 January 2026, mark a notable development in England’s planning framework for large-scale commercial infrastructure. By expanding access to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime, the Regulations signal a shift in how certain strategically important developments, particularly data centres, may be consented going forward.
While the changes are evolutionary rather than revolutionary, they reflect a broader policy direction: recognising that some commercial developments now carry national economic and infrastructure significance, and may warrant a consenting route traditionally reserved for major public infrastructure.

The Planning & Infrastructure Bill: Part 3 Amendments and the Rising Judicial Review Risk

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The Planning & Infrastructure Bill represents one of the most significant overhauls of the UK planning regime in recent years. Part 3 of the Bill, which addresses long-standing environmental constraints on development, has been presented by government as a mechanism to unlock stalled housing and infrastructure schemes. Yet while the amendments promise to reduce costs and accelerate delivery, they also heighten the prospect of Judicial Review challenges. For developers, funders, and insurers alike, the stakes could not be higher.

Judicial Review Dismissed in Wimbledon Park Expansion: Key Legal and Planning Implications

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On 21 July 2025, the High Court dismissed a high-profile judicial review challenge brought by Save Wimbledon Park Ltd against the Mayor of London. The case centred on the Mayor’s decision to grant planning permission for the expansion of the All England Lawn Tennis Ground (AELTG) across 39.7 hectares of Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), including the Wimbledon Park Golf Course.
Presided over by Mr Justice Saini, the judgment offers important insights into the interaction between planning decisions, legal constraints such as restrictive covenants, and the treatment of heritage and recreational land under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). For law firms advising developers, local authorities, or community groups, the case provides a timely and instructive precedent.

UK Data Centre Expansion: Judicial Review Risks and the Renewables Imperative

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The UK is poised for a substantial uplift in its data centre infrastructure, with nearly 100 new developments expected over the next five years – an increase of almost 20 per cent over existing facilities. This surge is driven by escalating demand for artificial intelligence processing power and fuelled by significant investments from major firms, including a £10 billion AI-focused centre in Blyth backed by Blackstone, and hundreds of millions of pounds from tech giants such as Google and Microsoft.

Permit Challenge Insurance: Unlocking Legal Certainty for Renewable Energy Projects

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The Scottish Government’s recent approval of the Berwick Bank offshore wind farm marks a significant moment for the UK’s renewable energy sector. Located in the North Sea, this SSE Renewables-led project is set to become one of the largest offshore wind farms globally, with the capacity to generate electricity for every home in Scotland twice over each year. The scheme represents the scale of ambition required to achieve the UK’s net zero targets.