Practice Profile

Andrew Tait QC's main areas of work are in planning, environmental, administrative, transport and works, highways, compulsory purchase and compensation work.

He is recommended as a Leading Silk in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 guides:

"Deemed 'diligent and hard-working with a calm authority about him', Andrew Tait QC is credited with 'an absolutely clinical mind and a devasting ability to dissect cases.'"
Chambers & Partners 2010

"Opponents should not be deceived by Andrew Tait QC's 'friendly, approachable demeanour', his 'dedication, thoroughness and willingness to get stuck in' make him a formidable adversary."
Chambers & Partners 2010

Cases of Note

• Victoria Station Upgrade Inquiry 2008-2009 (for Transport for London)
  
• Weymouth Relief Road Inquiry, 2007
  
• DLR 2012 Capacity Enhancement Order Inquiry, 2007 (for DLR)
  
• Poole Harbour Twin Sails Bridge Inquiry, 2005 (for Poole Borough Council)
  
• Brunt v. Southampton International Airport Ltd in the Court of Appeal, 2005 (for BAA)

Experience

INFRASTRUCTURE

He has been involved in a number of major infrastructure projects at public inquiry, including promoting major road proposals on behalf of the Highways Agency, such as schemes for the A30/A303/A35 and M20; and urban regeneration projects, such as Roundshaw Estate redevelopment in South London.
He appeared at the East London River Crossing, Hinkley Point C Nuclear power station inquiries and Thameslink 2000 inquiries. He is currently advising the Olympic Delivery Authority on the 2012 Games.
He has extensive Private Bill and Transport and Works Act Order experience, including promoting Victoria Station Upgrade for TFL in 2008-9, the Thameslink 2000 inquiry on behalf of the City of London Corporation and the Poole Twin Sails Bridge Transport and Works Act Order in 2005. He promoted the DLR (Capacity Enhancement and 2012 Games Preparation) Order and the Weymouth Relief Road at inquiries in 2007, and is promoting the South Devon Link Road in 2009.
He has been involved in numerous railway bills in parliament. He promoted the Greater Nottingham LRT Bill and acted for BAA on the Crossrail proposals. He is also advising on the Airtrack proposals for BAA.

PLANNING

His experience at planning inquiries includes minerals, housing and retail proposals. He promoted the Sutton UDP in 2000, the Torbay Local Plan in 2001-2 and the Lewisham UDP in 2002.

Recent public inquiries include

• New settlement north-east of Chelmsford (for Countryside properties)
  
• Appearing at the New Forest National Park Inquiry on behalf of three opposing Dorset authorities and at the South Downs National Park Inquiry on behalf of Southern Water
  
• Major expansion south of Ashford
  
• Major out of centre retail proposals in Tunbridge Wells
  
• Promoting the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Waste Local Plan
  
• Major inquiries for Southern Water including the Brighton and Hove waste water and treatment works
  
• South Northamptonshire District Council v. Charles Church Developments Ltd - concerning the quashing of local plans
• Housing proposals for Persimmon Homes in the South-West and the Midlands

He has been involved in a number of major infrastructure projects at public inquiry, including promoting major road proposals on behalf of the Highways Agency, such as schemes for the A30/A303/A35 and M20; and urban regeneration projects, such as Roundshaw Estate redevelopment in South London.
He appeared at the East London River Crossing, Hinkley Point C Nuclear power station inquiries and Thameslink 2000 inquiries. He is currently advising the Olympic Delivery Authority on the 2012 Games.
He has extensive Private Bill and Transport and Works Act Order experience, including promoting Victoria Station Upgrade for TFL in 2008-9, the Thameslink 2000 inquiry on behalf of the City of London Corporation and the Poole Twin Sails Bridge Transport and Works Act Order in 2005. He promoted the DLR (Capacity Enhancement and 2012 Games Preparation) Order and the Weymouth Relief Road at inquiries in 2007, and is promoting the South Devon Link Road in 2009.
He has been involved in numerous railway bills in parliament. He promoted the Greater Nottingham LRT Bill and acted for BAA on the Crossrail proposals. He is also advising on the Airtrack proposals for BAA.

LAND VALUATION

• BP Oil UK Ltd v. Kent County Council in the Court of Appeal (2003) - concerning limitation periods in compulsory purchase claims
  
• Brunt v. Southampton International Airport Ltd in the Court of Appeal (2005) - where he appeared for BAA on a point of statutory construction under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973
  
• He has extensive experience in the Lands Tribunal, including Clemdell v. Dorset CC in the Lands Tribunal (2009) - concerning claims for underpayment of advance payments
  

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Promoting the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Waste Local Plan
  
• Southern Water waste water treatment plans: public inquirires and judicial review
  
• Hinckley Point ‘C' nuclear power station public inquiry

PARLIAMENTARY

• Various railway bills
• Great Nottingham LRT Bill
• Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority Bill
• Crossrail (for BAA)

Qualifications and Appointments

• MA (Oxon)
  
• Assistant Boundary Commissioner for England since 2000
  
• Member of the South Eastern Circuit
  
• Member of the Planning and Environment Bar Association, the Administrative Law Bar Association, the Parliamentary Bar and the Anglo-American Real Property Institute.