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Delivering land strategies, environmental services, planning and surveying, including site-finding, access and consents

DM’s relationships with the UK’s water utility companies date to the beginning of our company, 22 years ago. We are proud to be able to say we still work with one of our very first clients, South East Water.

Our clients benefit from being able to use a single consultancy for all types of consents, including land, environmental and planning. Together with our Geomatics and Stakeholder Engagement services, this integrated approach creates time and financial efficiencies, as well as a streamlined delivery management process. 

Our expertise includes securing land access, legal rights, acquisitions and consents for water pipelines, reservoirs, and treatment facilities, landowner consultation and settling compensation matters The Environment & Planning teams provide all required works under the Town & Country Planning Act. We are adept at coordinating environmental consents for projects, such as FRAPs, ordinary watercourse consents, scheduled monument consents and works to trees in conservation areas. 

We take a risk-based approach, highlighting and managing risk. At our heart, we are problem solvers: proactive and agile.   

  • The logo of Affinity Water features the words 'Affinity' in dark blue and 'Water' in a gradient from blue to light blue, presented in a modern typeface.
  • Logo of Yorkshire Water featuring stylized blue waves above the text 'Yorkshire Water' in a modern font.
  • The logo of Severn Trent, featuring the words 'SEVERN' in white text on a blue background and 'TRENT' in white text on a green background, separated by a white border.
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We are proud to act on behalf of 12 water companies and use these opportunities to exchange knowledge from across the industry, sharing lessons learned and best practice with our teams and clients.
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Clean water

Prepared for change With the dual impacts of hotter, drier weather and a growing population requiring safe, high quality drinking water, our water clients are bringing forward projects that will ensure there is enough water in the future. 

These projects include mains renewals, repair work to reduce the amount of leakage and the installation of new water supply pipes. The water industry is also embarking on the most ambitious water resources and water quality plans in decades, essentially creating a ‘National Water Grid’ of new interconnector pipelines, infrastructure and reservoirs. 

DM’s teams are already supporting the delivery of these projects. By taking a proactive approach and providing pragmatic, reasoned advice, we are delivering results required by our clients and by AMP8.

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Wastewater

Reducing spills from storm overflows and pollution Water companies are investing record amounts to tackle storm overflows and pollution. Our teams are already supporting clients to deliver enormous sampling and monitoring programmes to ensure robust data is being collected to inform where and when improvement works are needed to CSOs (combined sewer outfalls), as well as range of other projects to reduce pollution in our waterbodies.  

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Sector-specific services

We negotiate temporary and permanent rights for the delivery of wetlands, carry out consultation with landowners and occupiers and provide strategic advice on legal agreements such as joint ventures and leases. 

We work collaboratively with our clients to de-risk programmes involving ‘green solutions’ by identifying  place-based constraints and opportunities which inform the ideal locations of SuDS. We then help clients get ‘on site, on time’ by serving the requisite statutory notices and advise on any additional legal agreements required. 

Conduct environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and habitat surveys to identify suitable locations for NbS such as wetlands or SuDS. 

AMP8: DM’s role

The three focus areas for AMP8 are water supply, water pollution and maintaining existing assets. 

At DM we are already securing land and consents for all these types of projects, including large sampling and monitoring programmes. There is recognition that there needs to be a better understanding of our water environment, which requires obtaining better data from as many sources as possible, such as from water companies, data from the public and from bodies such as the Met Office. Using a robust evidence base means DM can support with informed decisions – allowing projects to be delivered with pace and confidence. 

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BNG: Challenging but achievable

We recognise that delivering BNG can be challenging – whether it’s required for a small pumping station extension or as part of a strategic resource option (SRO) being delivered via a Development Consent Order (DCO). Our multi-disciplinary team (surveyors, planning experts, GIS specialists and ecologists) help clients navigate these challenges by providing delivery-focused advice, outlining options and providing tailored recommendations.

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Dalcour Maclaren's understanding of our business and proactive approach has consistently helped us deliver projects efficiently and effectively. It has been a pleasure working with such a dedicated and talented team.
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Our services include

Our sector specialists

Across our areas of expertise, we can offer experienced, qualified professionals who understand the complexities of regulation and compliance.

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Environment & Planning

Joe Urbanowicz

Principal Environmental Planner
BSc MSc PIEMA

Specialising in water industry, with expertise in EIA, PD, planning and environmental consents

Contact Joe
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Geomatics

Sam Catling

Director
BSc (Hons), MRICS, FAAV

Strategic leader in utilities and infrastructure, leveraging Chartered Surveyor expertise in rights of access and conflict resolution within the Water Industry

Contact Sam
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Land & Property

Victoria Fishlock

Associate Director
MRICS, MSc

Specialising in water industry specialist in land rights strategy, acquisition negotiation, statutory powers and voluntary access, landowner engagement, and delivery of green infrastructure like SuDS and wetlands alongside grey systems

Contact Victoria
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Stakeholder Engagement

Lily Lawton

Associate Director - Engagement

Specialising in stakeholder engagement, community relations, and marketing and communications

Contact Lily

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