Expert Witness support for your development
Andrew McCarthy has over 20 years’ experience of assisting developers taking projects through planning. He has provided ecology expert witness support at a number of Planning Inquiries, Local Plan Examinations and hearings, as well as at planning panels and local planning authority committee meetings.
Andrew’s highest profile expert witness appearance was at the public inquiry for the contentious A380 South Devon Link Road (Kingskerswell by-pass) proposal. During the Inquiry Andrew presented expert witness evidence on various aspects of ecology associated with this proposed £120 million development scheme, including an appraisal of the likely effects of the road on a local lesser horseshoe-bat population as well as on the nationally rare bird species cirl bunting. During cross examination Andrew cited mitigation commitments such as culverts under the road positioned along bat flight routes, as well as new offline habitat creation and other enhancements for both bats and cirl buntings. Following the public inquiry the road scheme was granted planning consent and is presently under construction (it is due for completion in December 2015).
More recently Andrew has presented expert witness evidence at formal hearings, planning panel meetings and Committee meetings associated with two highly contentious proposed residential developments in North London. Andrew successfully defended his client’s case with regard to ecology in both instances, and both schemes were consented.
Summary of Andrew’s experience as an ecology expert witness:
- Attending inquiry team meetings with client and counsel
- Preparing written representations, and proofs of evidence
- Appraising the case against a scheme and preparing written rebuttals
- Preparing cross-examination notes for counsel
- Cross examination as an expert witness