In conversation with Phil King

06 June 2025

Phil King joined us in 2022, bringing over 25 years of experience in town planning and a strong commitment to tackling complex infrastructure challenges. Now leading WSP’s Infrastructure Planning and Engagement business, Phil has played a key role in delivering numerous Development Consent Order (DCO) applications, Transport and Works Act Orders, and Town and Country Planning Act applications, often stepping up as the lead Expert Witness at DCO hearings and public inquiries.

Phil brings a genuine enthusiasm for problem-solving and takes pride in building strong relationships with clients to fully understand their goals and challenges.

Development Consent Orders (DCOs) are the enablers of nationally significant infrastructure, shaping the future of energy, transport, and water. They provide projects with the legal certainty and streamlined processes needed to move from ambition to reality. A well-executed DCO does more than meet regulatory requirements—it balances progress with environmental responsibility, ensures public voices are heard, and keeps infrastructure moving forward. When done right, it transforms bold ideas into reality, creating solutions that are not only fit for today but built for the future.

Phil King

Service Line Director, Infrastructure Planning & Engagement

United Kingdom

How significant is WSP's contribution to the DCO landscape?

We have had the opportunity to shape UK infrastructure, contributing to over 80 Development Consent Orders, equivalent to about half of all DCOs approved to date. With this, we’ve gained deep insight into the process, challenges, and best practices and work within client teams to streamline delivery and strengthen stakeholder engagement. We’ve played a key role in projects like Hynet’s CO₂ pipeline, awarded National Infrastructure Planning Association’s Project of the Year in 2024. DCOs certainly bring challenges, particularly in community engagement. We enjoy applying our expertise to the complexities of navigating stakeholder engagement, environmental considerations, and regulatory hurdles.

How does WSP address concerns from landowners and the public during these projects?

It’s the idea that neighbours aren’t just the people next door, they’re the communities, businesses, and landscapes that shape a project’s impact. Great infrastructure doesn’t just fit in; it enhances its surroundings, leaving a positive legacy. In terms of concerns, listening to communities is central to our approach. For landowners, we engage directly, adapting plans to reduce disruption, whether adjusting construction timing or negotiating compensation. For the wider public, clear communication sets expectations and addresses concerns early. Not everyone will be happy, but ensuring people feel heard builds trust and makes a real difference.

What are the common challenges faced during the construction phase of DCO projects?

Managing the temporary disruption to local communities caused by construction can often be a challenge, noise, vehicle movements, and temporary land use can frustrate communities, even when they support the project’s long-term benefits. Early planning and engagement helps. Thoughtful construction practices, minimising disturbances at sensitive times, and effective coordination with local authorities make a difference. In sensitive areas, low-disruption methods like tunnel boring may be preferable, even if initially more costly. Practical solutions must work for both nature and project timelines.

How important is having a robust communication strategy for DCO projects?

Very important as proactive engagement prevents resistance. Clear, early communication ensures communities understand the process and what to expect. Thoughtful construction practices, limiting disruption, scheduling carefully, and coordinating with authorities, can significantly ease tensions. Balancing environmental concerns is also crucial. Demonstrating to communities that we have taken practical steps to reduce environmental impacts, such as proposing pipeline routes that actively avoid environmental effects, sometimes at a higher cost to the promoter, can help allay local concerns.

What lessons from these sectors can be applied to the water industry?

Water infrastructure faces similar challenges to delivering oil and gas pipelines and underground cabling for electricity networks, complex regulations, environmental considerations, and resilience planning. Early engagement and proactive planning are essential, as communities care deeply about construction impacts. When clients, consultants, and regulators align early, projects move forward more smoothly. Working as integrated teams and anticipating challenges leads to better approvals and outcomes. Resilience remains central—whether in decarbonisation of heavy industry or securing water supply to our regions.

Turning ambition into Infrastructure with DCOs

We hope you found Phil’s insights on how DCOs drive progress, shaping resilient, sustainable infrastructure. WSP’s approach to Development Consent Orders (DCOs) offers valuable lessons for infrastructure development across industries. From energy to water, a proactive and integrated approach ensures projects not only meet regulatory demands but also deliver lasting benefits to communities and the environment. Be sure to explore our other 'In Conversation With' pieces, where WSP experts share their unique perspectives on upcoming industry developments.

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