Sara Powell is a Consultant Partner within our Planning & Environmental and Regulatory teams.
Sara supports clients operating across the water, infrastructure, development and agricultural sectors, advising on complex environmental and regulatory issues that shape project delivery and strategic decision-making.
Recognised for her specialist expertise in water regulation, she advises on abstraction, wastewater and infrastructure permitting, groundwater and surface water protection, pollution control and the regulatory implications of agricultural and land-management activities. She has extensive experience advising on nutrient impacts, including nitrogen and phosphorus, encompassing nutrient neutrality requirements as well as wider water quality, permitting and habitats considerations. Sara guides clients through evolving requirements that directly influence development prospects and permitting outcomes.
Sara brings a growing focus on nature-based solutions and their role in supporting environmental and planning objectives. Furthermore, she also advises on emerging regulatory frameworks, evidential expectations and governance arrangements that determine when constructed wetlands and similar interventions can be lawfully and effectively deployed as part of nutrient mitigation strategies or wider environmental delivery.
Working at the intersection of planning policy, environmental regulation and infrastructure development, Sara supports clients in achieving solutions that are both legally robust and practically workable.She also advises on renewable energy and related infrastructure, particularly where protected sites and environmental constraints shape project design.
Known for her intellectual rigour, clarity, and collaborative approach, Sara integrates technical evidence with legal judgement to deliver advice that is resilient, defensible and aligned with regulatory expectations. Her previous experience within a major environmental regulator provides valuable insight into regulatory processes, culture and governance.
Outside of practice, Sara finds balance in the coastal landscapes of West Wales, coupled with enjoying time in nature with her family and loved ones.
