LexisPSL Environment News Podcast – August 2021

LexisPSL Environment News Podcast – August 2021

Welcome back to the LexisPSL Environment News podcast. and of 6 Pump Court discuss some of the key developments over the previous month, including:

  • Southern Water’s record £90 million fine
  • Valero Logistics UK Ltd v Plymouth City Council
  • The UK Innovation Strategy and the potential for the precautionary principle to be revisited

To listen to the podcast, click here.

Southern Water’s record fine - listen from 0.34 mins

In the first part of the podcast, Chris and Mark look at the recent Southern Water fine of £90 million connected with 51 counts, 6971 illegal spills and 17 sites between 2010-2015. They focus on the outcome of this fine in the context of the development of the Sentencing Guidelines and the intention of the Sentencing Council when the guidelines were set, in particular, looking at the consultation response from water companies on the draft Guidelines and whether statutory undertakers should be recognised as a unique category.  

Valero Logistics UK Ltd v Plymouth City Council– listen from 5.33 mins

Moving on to the second part of the podcast, Chris and Mark discuss the planning case of Valero Logistics UK Ltd v Plymouth City Council   concerning a helicopter landing site, near to a  Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 2015 (COMAH) site.  In their discussions they make clear the importance of confirming the extent to which local authorities can rely on another regulator when regimes overlap.

The UK Innovation Strategy and the potential for the precautionary principle to be revisited– listen from 8.23 mins

In the final part of the podcast, we hear about the publication of the UK Innovation Strategy and what this might mean for the application of the precautionary principle. Does the precautionary principle stifle innovation? Should potential benefits be more closely considered before all harm is blocked by the principle’s application? Chris and Mark discuss all this, plus what this could mean for the Environment Bill. 

For more information, see:

More information on environment can be found here.

Non-subscribers: please fill in the form below to take a free trial of LexisPSL.

 


Related Articles:
Latest Articles:
About the author:

Simone is an environmental law and ESG specialist and is head of LexisPSL Environment, and the Built Environment group. Simone moved to ÀÏ˾»úÎçÒ¹¸£Àû from Clyde & Co, where her practice included contentious work, including large scale arbitrations, private claims and regulatory breaches, non-contentious support and regulatory advice. Some of her experience includes work around emissions trading, climate change and net zero, environmental due diligence, energy performance certificates and minimum energy efficiency standard, permitting requirements, contaminated land and sustainable business developments. Simone has written a number of articles, which have been published in various journals and is a trustee and Vice Chair of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA).