Private legislation is the means of authorising activities and acquiring certain powers or benefits that are in addition to, or in conflict with, the general law.  In practice, Private Bills introduced in the Scottish Parliament have mostly been used to authorise major infrastructure works.

We have acted for the promoters of four Private Bills in the Scottish Parliament and have significant experience of the private bill process. We worked closely with John Kennedy & Co, parliamentary agents at Westminster, on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine and Linked Improvements Bill, the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill, the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill and the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill.  We are well placed to advise those seeking to promote private legislation.

We are also familiar with the new order-making procedure for approving transport projects in terms of the Transport and Works (Scotland) Act 2007 and two of our partners have co-authored the Annotated Transport and Works (Scotland) Act 2007.

For more information please contact Fiona Killen or Alastair Mckie.