Christian Drage

Christian Drage
  1. People /

Christian Drage

Christian Drage

Partner

Christian Drage
  1. People /

Christian Drage

Christian Drage

Partner

Christian Drage

Partner

London

Partner and Practice Group Leader - Planning and Zoning UK

T: +44 (0) 20 3400 4947

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Biography

Christian has over 20 years of experience in advising on planning and project law and the delivery of major redevelopment and infrastructure projects including some of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe.  He is a go to person for a number of the UK’s largest promoters of commercial development and energy/transportation infrastructure.  Christian’s current caseload includes advising on a number of the country’s largest nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs/DCOs), over station development (including the £7bn One Euston project) and several new settlements both within or on the fringe of cities or new villages/towns in the Green Belt.

Chambers & Partners rank Christian as a leading individual and quoted client testimonies include: “Christian is extremely approachable, highly knowledgeable, collaborative and agile.”

Christian is recognised by Legal 500 UK 2024 as a leading individual for Real Estate: Planning. 

Areas of Focus

  • Logistics & Industrial

Christian Drage is exceptional in his no frills, practical approach to problem solving and advice, using his many years of experience to the benefit of the client. He provides a high-level of confidence and clarity of advice in response to often daunting and complex situations. 

Legal 500 2024

Admissions

  • England and Wales

Related Practice Areas

  • Real Estate Sector

  • Real Estate Life Sciences

  • Data Center & Digital Infrastructure Team

  • Oil, Gas and LNG

  • Collegiate Sports Practice

  • Olympic & National Governing Body Practice

  • Professional Sports Team Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment Contract, Endorsement & Celebrity Representation Practice

  • Anti-Doping Practice

  • Sports & Event Venue Real Estate Infrastructure and Operation

  • Naming Rights & Sponsorship Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment M&A Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment Litigation Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment Specialty Counseling Practice

  • Entertainment Industry Practice

  • Sports & Event Financing

  • Redevelopment

  • ESG & Energy Transition

  • Environment

  • Real Estate

  • Infrastructure

  • Sports & Entertainment

  • Commercial Real Estate

  • Planning & Zoning

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Logistics & Industrial

  • Zero Emission Vehicles & Charging Infrastructure

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Hot on the heels of the NPPF consultation MHCLG has published a working paper on the introduction of ‘brownfield passports’ to encourage development of brownfield urban land in a way that goes beyond the policy support in the NPPF. This short Insight takes a look at this latest proposal and considers whether it offers something new for developers or whether it is a repurposing of existing tools. 
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The Supreme Court’s judgment in R(Finch) v Surrey County Council  [2024] UKSC 20 has potentially significant implications on how environmental impacts of major projects are assessed.  The question at the heart of the case was how far ‘downstream’ from a development project the decision-maker has to look when assessing its likely environmental effects.  The answer, according to a slim majority of the Supreme Court, is further than had previously been thought necessary.  However, it’s not panic stations for all EIA development.
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As part of the ongoing Government reforms to the consenting process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (“NSIPs”), PINS has launched its 2024 Pre-Application Prospectus. The Prospectus sits alongside a suite of other newly-published Guidance, which we have discussed in previous Insights, providing updated guidance on the DCO pre-application stage and new guidance on the new Fast-track process. The Prospectus implements expected reforms to the NSIP application process and provides important detail which all promoters should familiarise themselves with. In this Insight we summarise the key changes, which includes a: new tiered Pre-application service and associated costs; new and increased documentation and procedural requirements; Fast-track procedure; and transitional arrangements for projects already in the system.
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