Stephenson Harwood wins lead on £3bn London waste-to-energy project

Stephenson Harwood has won the key role to advise the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) on a £3bn waste-to-energy procurement project, after a competitive tender which saw the firm see off former adviser Eversheds. The project will see the creation of new waste treatment facilities in north London and a new fuel use facility to optimise energy recovery from solid recovered fuel. By 2045, the facilities are expected to handle around 3% of the UK's municipal waste tonnage.

March 11, 2012 at 08:03 PM

2 minute read

By Sofia Lind

The project will see the creation of new waste treatment facilities in north London and a new fuel use facility to optimise energy recovery from solid recovered fuel. By 2045, the facilities are expected to handle around 3% of the UK's municipal waste tonnage.

Stephenson Harwood's team is being led by City infrastructure and projects partner Jonathan Cripps (pictured) – a former partner at Eversheds – alongside infrastructure and projects partners Andrew Wiseman and Rebecca Carter.

NWLA said that the firm had won the contract after it was impressed by the "cost and quality" of Stephenson Harwood's proposal.

The ongoing procurement process for the project has also handed roles to Pinsent Masons, Nabarro and Ashurst.

Pinsents is acting for Veolia, which is bidding for both the waste and the fuel projects. Infrastructure partners Simon Mumford and Catherine Workman are advising French facilities giant, with Mumford handling the fuel bid and Workman the waste contract bid.

Nabarro is advising a consortium comprising Swedish and Spanish construction companies Skanska and FCC, which is bidding for the waste project. The firm's team includes partners James Snape, Stephanie McDonald and Clare Deanesly.

Meanwhile, Ashurst is advising the other bidder on the fuel project, a consortium of E.ON and US company Wheelabrator, with City energy partner Logan Mair leading the team.

Cripps said: "This project is one of the most high-profile in the sector and we are looking forward to working with the NLWA's team to take it to financial close."

One City projects partner commented: "This is possibly one of the last long-running waste projects of this scale. We have seen a notable decline, which is based on difficulties in predicting future levels of waste as well as the withdrawal financial support from the Government to fund these projects."