Overview

Plant decommissioning and site closure projects are sensitive and not without risk. Businesses face a range of commercial and reputational concerns and need expert guidance through this complex process.

We have developed a specialist service for clients who need advice on plant decommissioning and site closure. We understand the intricacies of the laws around site closure and how the legal aspects of the project interlink with wider business needs.

Our advice covers all of the key legal disciplines involved in plant decommissioning: from planning, construction and real estate issues to employment and health and safety matters. Our specialist lawyers integrate seamlessly with the client's own internal and external advisory teams.

We have worked on many of the UK's most high profile site closure projects, including manufacturing and chemical sites, and coal and gas power stations. We also advised on the decommissioning of Magnox nuclear power stations and the Dounreay site, the largest decommissioning project the UK has seen.

Areas of focus

Our plant decommissioning and site closure expertise includes the following:

  • Input into strategies for mothballing, closure and for redevelopment of facilities.
  • Environmental permits, variation and surrender and planning issues.
  • Leasehold surrender and surrounding conditions.
  • The dismantling and on-sale of key plant and equipment to third party purchasers.
  • Demolition and remediation contracts.
  • Mitigating environmental liabilities.
  • Dealing with nuisance, trespass and protester actions.
  • Business rates and the wind down of commercial contracts.
  • Redundancy and employment issues.
Experience

Advising on the closure and sale of the Sevalco UK chemical's site in Avonmouth.

Advising on the closure and surrender of the Albemarle UK chemicals site.

Advising on the closure and surrender of the Shotton CHP plant.

Advising on the closure and redevelopment of the Rugeley power station site.

Advising on the closure and mothballing of a major brick manufacturing site.

Advising on the closure and sale of a major Teeside chemicals site.

Advising on the closure and sale of the Fawley oil-fired power station.

Advising on the closure of Alcoa UK site.

Advising on the closure (aborted) of a major car component manufacturing site.

Meet the team
Ross Fairley

Ross Fairley Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Renewable Energy
  • Environment
Ian Salter

Ian Salter Partner

  • Head of Nuclear
  • Head of Projects
  • Environment
Ian Truman

Ian Truman Partner

  • Nuclear
  • Projects
  • Environment
Cheryl Parkhouse

Cheryl Parkhouse Senior Associate

  • Nuclear 
  • Projects
  • Public Sector
James Phillips

James Phillips Partner

  • Head of Energy & Utilities
  • Head of Energy Transition
  • Energy Regulation
John Houlden

John Houlden Partner

  • Head of Public Sector
  • Head of Procurement and Subsidy Control
  • Projects
Mark Paterson

Mark Paterson Partner

  • Defence
  • Business Transformation
  • Central Government
Headshot of Adrian Martin

Adrian Martin Partner

  • Head of Employment
  • TUPE: Business Transfers and Outsourcing
  • Restructuring and Redundancy
Michael Barlow

Michael Barlow Partner

  • Head of Environment
  • Head of Water
  • Head of ESG

What others say...

The team at Burges Salmon can rapidly and cost-effectively deploy a wealth of internal specialists and resources.

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