Expert Witness
The discipline related structure within Millard Consulting has enabled us to develop a comprehensive range of experts. See below for:
- our specialist contacts
- detailed expert witness services
- examples of previous projects
"a comprehensive range of experts"
We can provide expert evidence for:
- call in inquiries
- high court challenge
- litigation cases
- local development framework
- planning appeals
All of our experts currently actively work within their chosen field, providing high level design advice to both public and private sector clients. This ensures that their evidence is both practical and relevant.
Millard Consulting encourages continual education and improvement within its cadre of experts, ensuring that they are up-to-date with the latest technical advances / solutions.
Our team of expert witnesses includes Philip Porter, who has a synopsis shown below, as well as:
- environmental - Chris Meek
- energy / renewables - Graham Gilleberg
- flood risk - Chris Ward and Brian Coghlan
- infrastructure - Martin Doughty
- structural - Andy Fewings, Jon Spalding and Mark Pirrie
- transportation / transport planning - Ken Pirie, Alex Bennett and Philip Porter
Specialist
Phil Porter
Director
philip.porter@millardconsulting.co.ukPhil is an engineer with over 40 years' experience. He joined Millard Consulting in 2004 and is responsible for managing a team of transportation engineers dealing with all aspects of transportation. Projects have included all aspects of transportation planning and modelling with particular reference to the most efficient use of existing transport networks, preparation, negotiations and implementation of Green commuter Plans and identification of innovative public transport and soft travel mode proposals.
Oakwood Park, Felsted, Essex
This redevelopment of a former sugar beet factory site in Essex resulted in Millard Consulting providing evidence at two local plan inquiries, as well as three planning appeals.
Evidence included:
- flood risk
- infrastructure provision
- sustainability
- transportation
Millard Consulting also provided representation on behalf of the client, in relation to the local development framework core strategy and is currently preparing documentation to support a high court challenge.
Flood risk
Redrow Homes
Our Client, together with local residents’ groups, lodged an objection to a proposal to build homes on 27 hectares of the former Willington Power Station site, South Derbyshire.
Millard Consulting suspected that the site was affected by flood risk associated with the adjacent reach of the River Trent, which has the second largest fluvial catchment in England. It was believed that the Environment Agency would not object to the scheme at the South Derbyshire Local Plan Inquiry, despite earlier opposing the scheme on flood risk grounds.
Millard Consulting was tasked with investigating and quantifying the extent of flood risk to the site, for the purpose of submitting expert witness evidence for the South Derbyshire Local Plan Inquiry; which would review the proposed Local Plan housing allocations.
We reviewed all the available historical data and carried out detailed hydrological investigations, river modelling and flood risk mapping necessary to determine flood flows and flood levels in the Trent and across the site. The analysis demonstrated that a large part of the site fell within the high risk category; making it unsuitable for residential development.
"I was very pleased with the way our case was presented"
We also demonstrated how the development, within the fluvial Trent floodplain, would not accord with the aspirations of the Agency’s River Trent Strategy.
Christopher Ward, Director responsible, gave expert witness evidence at the Inquiry. The Inspector concluded, largely on the basis of Millard Consulting's evidence, that the flood risk was “unacceptable” and recommended the deletion of the allocation.
John Acres, Land Manager at Redrow Homes said: “I was very pleased with the way our case was presented”.
Projects with a significant expert witness aspect
Click on any of the projects below for a summary of the project and a downloadable project data sheet.