Planning and environmental law

What is environmental law?

Environmental law is a set of regulations that covers everything from climate breakdown to new developments in your town. If used properly, it can help protect the environment from harmful proposals like incinerators or new motorways.

Friends of the Earth's Legal and Planning Team has decades of experience using environmental law to support individuals and communities standing up for the environment. We help and defend people's right to:

Take part in the government's land-use planning system.
Use the law to protect the environment and public health.
Get hold of environmental information.

Our lawyers Katie and Will outside Court after Heathrow

Meet the legal team

Led by solicitor Will Rundle, the legal team at Friends of the Earth uses the law to hold government to account on climate. Find out more.

Meet the legal team

Led by solicitor Will Rundle, the legal team at Friends of the Earth uses the law to hold government to account on climate. Find out more.

Know your rights

Planning expert Magnus explains how you can use the Planning System to defend your community from climate-wrecking projects.

Know your rights

Planning expert Magnus explains how you can use the Planning System to defend your community from climate-wrecking projects.

Paper planes with messages opposing a third runway at Heathrow outside the Royal Courts of Justice.

Communities in action

Over the years, our Legal and Planning Teams have used the Planning System and environmental law to help communities secure some incredible successes. Read more.

Communities in action

Over the years, our Legal and Planning Teams have used the Planning System and environmental law to help communities secure some incredible successes. Read more.

With your support, we'll continue to fight for people and planet

Donate today

Support fund for environmental law interns

Our legal interns play a big role in our successes while gaining the experience they need to kickstart their careers.

But not everyone can afford to volunteer.

We've created a fund that pays our legal interns a London living wage. The Phil Michaels Legal Interns Scholarship Fund helps talented young people from less-advantaged backgrounds. Can you support the fund?

Help fund budding lawyers

Planning and legal news

Building construction site, with workers and scaffolding against sky

Campaigners hold off government's planning reforms

Published: 15 Sep 2021 | 2 minute read

The government was planning to make changes to the system that shapes how our towns and communities develop. But backlash from our supporters and other organisations has provoked a re-think. Find out about the campaign against proposals to the planning system and why it's important.

Climate

Legal and planning

Successes

photo of protest against climate induced migration at COP22

4 cases that threaten the UK's climate reputation

Published: 06 Sep 2021 | 4 minute read

The UK is set to host the UN climate talks (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021. But while the UK government claims to be a climate leader, it's currently involved in 4 cases that may worsen climate breakdown. Read about the cases.

Climate

Energy

5 things you need to know about the Environment Bill

Published: 23 Aug 2021 | 3 minute read

From polluted rivers to dirty air, our environment needs urgent attention. But despite this, the government has delayed the long-awaited Environment Bill four times since 2019.

Take action

Clean air

Energy

Mozambique gas project: Friends of the Earth asks for oral court hearing over government support

Published: 22 Mar 2021 | 3 minute read

Review sought over government decision to provide around $1 billion of UK taxpayer support for controversial project.

Climate

Press release

Calls for government to provide more funding and support for local action on climate crisis

Published: 08 Dec 2020 | 3 minute read

Support local councils or miss your own climate targets – Friends of the Earth and local government issue warning to Westminster.

Climate

Press release

High Court hears legal challenge against Surrey oil development

Published: 17 Nov 2020 | 3 minute read

A legal challenge to Surrey County Council’s decision to allow 20 years of oil drilling and production to take place near Gatwick airport begins in the High Court today (17.11.20)

System change

Legal and planning

Press release

People holding up climate justice banners at a climate change protest

Justice and representation in the environment sector

Published: 10 Nov 2020 | 4 minute read

Friends of the Earth's legal intern Conso Enobakhare looks at continued patterns of colonialism and why representation matters in the environment movement.

Climate

General