DLA Piper has advised the UK Department for Transport on its recently announced Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) aimed at dealing with airport capacity issues in South East England and the expansion of London Heathrow Airport. The firm has been advising in this capacity since the publication of the Airports Commissions report in 2015 led by Colin Wilson, DLA Piper's UK Head of Projects.

As part of DLA Piper's role in the NPS, a team of lawyers, headed by partner Howard Bassford and others from the wider UK Planning group, have been assisting the Department for Transport with the drafting of the policy and the associated documentation. This will now be subject to a period of public consultation with the aim of being laid before Parliament and becoming official government policy later this year. 

Lead associate Jim McAvan and associate Claire Stoneman  also played key roles as the team advised both legal and policy personnel at the Department for Transport on all aspects of planning law, the development consent process, and the role and practical function of an NPS. The DLA Piper team also assisted with the creation of the Government's consultation materials, which will go on display to the public shortly via road shows and the Department for Transport website.