Understanding the natural environment is a critical first step for any international development project. However, obtaining a detailed picture of large, remote areas in global markets has traditionally been a drain on both time and resources.
By leveraging innovative satellite remote sensing data, Blackhall & Powis provides comprehensive environmental studies that significantly reduces risk, time, and costs for our clients worldwide.
Director-led Geospatial Analysis
Led by our Director of Research, David Cooper, and our specialist Land Information and GIS team, we utilise high-resolution satellite imagery to provide actionable insights. Our remote sensing capabilities are designed to inform:
- Baseline Habitat and Species Mapping: Identifying what exists on the ground before a project begins.
- Long-term Habitat Monitoring: Tracking environmental changes over months or years.
- Restoration Opportunities: Identifying key areas for ecological recovery and biodiversity offsets.
Why Choose Remote Sensing Over Traditional Surveys?
Traditional “on-the-ground” surveys are essential but often time-consuming and logistically challenging when applied to vast or inaccessible regions. Our data is updated every few days, capturing repeat imagery to build a robust, “live” picture of the landscape.
While this high-res data can be integrated with ground-truth information, it dramatically reduces the need for physical surveys over long periods, allowing for faster decision-making without sacrificing accuracy.
Proven Global Experience
Our team has a proven track record of supporting species monitoring in some of the most challenging environments in the Middle East and Africa.
Most recently, David Cooper collaborated with the Centre for Middle Eastern Plants in the Arabian Peninsula. Through this partnership, he integrated satellite remote sensing data, GIS datasets and ground survey data to create a machine learning model and resulting map output of habitats over an area the size of Wales. This has provided a crucial baseline assessment for future conservation work within the region. Our expertise allows us to support clients across a variety of sectors, with capabilities including:
- Environmental & Habitat Modelling
- Carbon Credit Market & Sequestration Analysis
- Natural Disaster & Risk Monitoring
- Predictive Species Modelling
Partner With B&P for Your Next Project
Whether you are navigating the complexities of the carbon market or need a baseline environmental assessment for a remote site, B&P provides the clarity you need to move forward with confidence.
Ready to streamline your environmental strategy?
To learn more about our remote sensing capabilities or to discuss a specific project, contact David.
Scotland’s infrastructure pipeline is growing, and so is the complexity of delivering it. From major roads and utilities to large-scale energy projects, principal contractors and developers need specialist support teams who understand the unique challenges of working on live, high-profile sites.
B&P has been building that expertise on some of Scotland’s most demanding construction projects. Here’s how.
Supporting a Major Scottish Road Infrastructure Project
One of Scotland’s best-known trunk roads has long been one of the most challenging to maintain. Persistent landslips on steep terrain above the carriageway prompted a major long-term engineering solution: the design and construction of a debris flow shelter to protect the road from falling rocks and material.
It’s exactly the kind of complex, multi-contractor infrastructure project where specialist support services make the difference between a smooth delivery and a costly one.
The Challenge
The project combined some of the most demanding conditions a construction team can face: steep, unstable terrain; a live road requiring continuous public access; multiple contractors working simultaneously on site; and a wide range of stakeholders to manage, from transport authorities to local communities.
Effective stakeholder engagement, meticulous site records, and a consistent on-site presence throughout the construction programme were all essential.
How B&P Delivered
B&P was brought in to provide Public Liaison Officer (PLO) support and records of conditions services during the ground investigation phase, which involved hundreds of boreholes drilled across the site.
Our team was on site throughout the full construction period, November 2024 to September 2025, with responsibility for:
- Producing detailed records of conditions before and after works at each location
- Accurately recording site conditions across a large number of individual borehole locations
- Maintaining a consistent on-site presence to support contractors and protect all parties
- Deploying our Land Information team’s mobile application to capture field observations reliably in a remote location
B&P Project Lead, Iain Wright, said:
"It was a very challenging project overall. Our team gained valuable experience of working on a major roads project with multiple complexities, particularly around safety on a live site and co-ordinating with several other companies working simultaneously. While we weren't the face of the project, we are proud to have been part of such a high-profile piece of infrastructure and are keen to support more projects like this."
Our Construction Support Services
This project is one of a growing number where B&P has provided embedded, full-time construction support, and it reflects the breadth of our expanding Construction service.
We offer principal contractors and developers a multi-skilled team capable of supporting all phases of an infrastructure project, from early planning through to construction completion. Our construction support services include:
- Public Liaison Officer (PLO) support: on-site stakeholder communication and community engagement throughout the construction programme
- Records of conditions surveys: detailed pre-and post-work surveys to protect contractors and clients
- Land agreements, planning and consents
- Stakeholder engagement across complex, multi-party projects
- Environmental expertise: including legislation compliance, crop identification, soil, drainage and fencing
- Contractual obligations, management plans and designs
- Drone surveys
B&P Director of Construction Donald Proctor said:
"We have grown the team and service so that we can offer full support from early-stage planning right through to construction completion. We have been and continue to be involved in some of the UK's biggest renewables projects, including Seagreen and Norfolk Boreas, and we are keen to support developers and principal contractors across a wide range of large-scale energy and infrastructure construction projects."
Work With B&P on Your Next Project
If you are a principal contractor or developer looking for specialist construction support services in Scotland or the wider UK, we’d welcome the conversation.
Get in touch with Donald Proctor – donald.proctor@blackhallpowis.com
France’s renewable energy sector is at a critical juncture. Having missed its 2020 renewable energy targets, the French government has responded with an ambitious new energy roadmap, the PPE3, confirmed as recently as February 2026 and setting firm targets through to 2050. Offshore wind and solar PV sit at the heart of that plan, with France targeting 48 GW of solar PV capacity and 31 GW of onshore wind by 2030, followed by 15 GW of offshore wind by 2035 (S&P Global). With a significant amount of ground to cover in a short space of time, the opportunity for UK and international developers and partners to get involved has never been more compelling.
Local Knowledge of the French Renewable Energy Market
To support clients looking to move into this market, B&P has brought on board consultant Cédric Gerbier, building on our growing International Business Development team. Cédric is the co-founder and former CEO of Locogen France and an active member of the Global Scot business network, with over 20 years of experience in renewable energy across France and the UK. But beyond the credentials, what Cédric brings is something that’s genuinely hard to find: a deep understanding of how the French market works, how to build the right relationships from day one, and how to turn that knowledge into real opportunities for incoming developers.
Perfect Timing to Support Key Targets
This February, France confirmed its support for offshore wind and solar PV development with the release of its energy strategy plan to the 2050 horizon. France initiated its energy transition over two decades ago and is currently significantly behind target, but seems committed to accelerating and making up for the accumulated delay, making this an ideal opportunity for B&P to implement its market entry plan.
At B&P, we have already demonstrated our capacity to adapt our proven business model and approaches to successfully deliver projects for our clients across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. We fully understand the nature of the commitment required and the challenges associated with opening this new, highly competitive and mature market, often characterised by its administrative red tape and sluggishness. However, we strongly believe that our UK-style approach to development, our successful track record liaising with fisheries and developers, and our extremely powerful GIS capability makes us ideally positioned to add value to the already existing local supply chains. We are extremely excited to meet the local players, demonstrate our know-how and can-do attitude, and build a strong long term presence in a new, neighbouring friendly country.
How B&P Can Support Your Entry into the French Energy Market
We are already active in France, working with a major solar developer to source new opportunities, and we recently completed a project exploring market entry across multiple global markets and continents. If you are looking to do the same, here is how we can help:
- Geospatial analysis and land referencing: Identifying and assessing viable sites across France with precision, using our industry-leading GIS capability
- Stakeholder liaison and management: Building the local relationships that are essential for getting projects off the ground in the French market
- Land acquisition: Navigating the complexities of French land and securing the right agreements in the right locations
- Marine and offshore liaison: Specialist support for developers looking to capitalise on France’s growing offshore wind pipeline
Ready to Explore the French Renewable Energy Market?
France’s energy transition is gathering pace, and the window for developers and partners to establish a strong position in the market is open right now. If you are a UK or international developer looking to take advantage of the opportunities on offer, we would love to have that conversation with you.
Reach out to Cédric directly and let’s talk about what’s possible:
There are huge opportunities for energy projects across the globe, but it can be daunting for developers to step into new markets in continents they haven’t worked in before.
That’s where we come in.
B&P’s Geospatial and International Development team provides a guiding hand with expert knowledge, in-depth research and innovative tools to help our clients understand and identify market-entry opportunities around the world.
We recently completed a six-month project exploring market entry in multiple global markets across several continents. This provided our client with an interdisciplinary study covering market research, legal processes, land tenure systems and land ownership, including both private and government-owned sites, on each continent.
It’s a huge amount of information for developers to delve into, with geospatial analysis as well as detailed research required, sometimes in areas where open-source data isn’t readily available. We do that deep dive for our clients, pulling together all the relevant information into a detailed but digestible package that highlights both challenges and opportunities.
Our global market entry service
Our service includes:
- Geospatial analysis to identify opportunities, from the country level to the cadastral.
- Heat mapping and geovisualisation, taking into account client-specific constraints/requirements.
- Land referencing and research, including legal and land tenure systems and land pricing information.
- Environmental assessments, including irrigation and wind speed levels for different types of technology.
- Review with clients to discuss suitable sites.
- Contact mapping of local partners and landowners with significant land interests.
- Establishing teams for on-the-ground engagement and land assembly.
The strength of this approach is our ability to offer both a wide lens look at large-scale areas of opportunity as well as zooming in to the localised details to mitigate risk and provide confidence for clients to take the next steps.
If you are looking to explore opportunities for global market entry but don’t know where to start, B&P can help. Contact our Director of International Development, Pete Gettinby, pete.gettinby@blackhallpowis.com
Celebrating Generosity and Collaboration this International Women’s Day.
Supporting each other is a huge part of our culture at B&P, whether that’s among the broad mix of brilliant people we have on our team, or with stakeholders and clients.
So, while we’re not big on taking part in awareness days for the sake of it, the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, ‘Give to Gain’, focusing on generosity and collaboration, struck a chord.
We have an amazing team of women at B&P, working in a traditionally male-dominated sector, and each has a story to tell about the women (and men) who have supported and championed them along the way.
So, we thought we’d share some of them.
Jade Struthers MRICS, Senior Land Manager:
“As I started my career in surveying at B&P, it never occurred to me that it was traditionally a male-dominated profession. From my first day, I was surrounded by capable and knowledgeable women in senior leadership roles who gave up their time (and patience) to help me find my feet in a new career. This experience inspired me to ensure I do my best to give the same support to fellow women in the business and the wider industry – sometimes it is the allyship and shared experiences of another woman that really makes you feel like ‘you’ve got this’.
“I would especially like to shout out Kirsten Grant, who consistently supports and encourages me out of my comfort zone. She pushes me to believe in myself, be confident, and speak up, even when it feels uncomfortable. Everyone should have a Kirsten, and I hope I can be one for anyone who needs it. Also, a shout out to all the women who blazed the trail and paved the way for us to be where we are now – I feel so proud when I find myself on an all-woman client call discussing land strategy and making decisions for multi-million-pound projects. It’s very cool.”
Natalie Reilly, Associate Director – Land Referencing Lead England and Wales:
“I want to talk about my mum, for her continued support throughout and for showing great work ethic and commitment. My mum showed me that it is important to enjoy and be passionate about your work, and this has meant I chose a career based on my own interests.
“And the women I currently work with at B&P, who have welcomed me into the team and allowed me to progress over the past year. Whilst developing in a new role and different environment, my line manager, Saffron Sergison, has provided continuous support and kindness that has encouraged me to aspire further. Being a mum to a 3-year-old keeps me very busy, so having a supportive team at work is important.”
Cat MacLachlan – Director:
“Firstly, my thanks go to Chris Taylor. Despite my inability to stop talking during my interview, she gave me my first Wayleave officer job. She’s still the only person I know who can walk a construction site in a dress as if it’s PPE. She had more grit and courage than most of the men we worked with.
“My second appreciation is for the team and the landowners I worked with while pregnant. I had the most god-awful pregnancy, and so many people told me there was no way a pregnant woman could work on a construction site. If the team ever felt that way, they never let it show. Their support and top-quality banter carried me through one of the toughest periods of my life. They will never know how much I needed that, or how much strength their backing gave me.
“And lastly, my mum. She was one of only two women in her land economy course, told she wouldn’t get surveying roles because she was a woman – and later, because she was a wife and a mum. She pushed through barriers so that I don’t have to face the same ones now. Mum, thank you.”
Gill Froud, Divisional Director:
“A woman who had a huge influence on my career was Julie Clark at Savills. Julie was on the board and had worked her way up through the business, and I always aspired to be like her. She was hardworking and incredibly capable, but what stood out most was the way she gave me the confidence to grow.
“At a time when the industry was still very male-dominated, having someone like Julie to look up to made a real difference. She showed me that you could be strong, credible and successful without changing who you are, and her support gave me the belief to back myself and keep progressing.”
Ellen Grant, Associate Director – Networks
“Shout out to Jane and Isobel, the silent backbone of their teams. They bring order and structure, but just as importantly, kindness, compassion and empathy to everyone they meet. They are the rocks that ground us when projects start to spin out of control – calm, steady and solutions-focused when it matters most.
“They create a workplace where everyone feels welcome and supported, building a genuine sense of psychological safety. Because of them, people feel able to speak up, ask for help and do their best work.
“They have helped me personally more than they know. Their steady support, and their soft words of encouragement (and occasional well-timed reprimand) have reminded me time and again that a team is only as strong as the people within it and the way it’s led. That real performance doesn’t come from pressure alone; it grows from human connection, something far too easily overlooked in the modern world.”
Kirsten Grant – Director and Head of Offshore Renewables
“I began my career as a rural surveyor at a time when few women held senior positions within the industry. There was only one woman on the senior management team, but her presence demonstrated that progression was possible in what had historically been a male-dominated field. That visibility was pivotal for me in the early stages of my career. She was also a very talented professional who, in addition to her day job, raised a family and ran her family farm with her husband.
“As a young professional, I was living in Edinburgh and through netball, I found an exceptional group of women I formed lasting friendships with. This group included professionals from a variety of industries. They became, and continue to be, a significant source of inspiration as I watched them build their own careers and navigate their own paths. Being part of a group of like-minded, ambitious women was incredibly empowering, and their support encouraged me to pursue opportunities I might otherwise have considered out of reach.”
B&P started with four friends supporting each other to do something a bit different. “Give to Gain” isn’t just about individual mentorship; it’s about the culture the team is building together. By showing up for each other and sharing our expertise, we don’t just become a better place to work; we become a more effective partner for our clients. We’re proud of the team leading our business today.
Here’s to the mentors, the allies, and the next generation of trailblazers.
Rick Campbell, Director of Director of Development Services
For a change, we elected not to have a stand at the SR Onshore Conference, so our team got to enjoy the event a little more from the shop floor. The conference was excellent with useful insights from formal speakers and informal catch ups, as well as the chance to discuss business opportunities and meet colleagues old and new.
I’d intended to provide reflections on the conference after the first day but unfortunately the increasingly traditional, joint B&P-Gael Energy drinks (as pictured) got in the way.
Five big takeaways
So, my five big takeaways from the overall event are:
1. A project reshuffle is on the cards
My favourite subject at the moment – the fallout of the grid queue reform will impact portfolios everywhere. It’s important to be alive to this and keep options open as the winners emerge.
2. TNUoS cost increases – an unwelcome burden.
The industry broadly welcomed the Government’s rejection of Zonal Pricing, a clear example of industry speaking and Government listening which should be applauded. However, rejection of one system does not mean approval of another. TNUoS has undermined the business case for projects which otherwise would have gone ahead for a generation. Making it worse doesn’t help anyone. More work is needed here.
3. Repowering is the talk of town
We’ve known this was coming for a while, but repowering sites (together with its close sisters: decommissioning and redeployment) were the main topics of conversation at the event. Lots of practical and positive ideas being discussed. As ever, communication and collaboration will be key to delivering this important work.
4. England and Wales are just getting warmed up
The hotly anticipated establishment of development pipeline in England and Wales is well underway. Again, industry-wide challenges are present, not least making sure regulators are familiar with onshore wind challenges, and ensuring developers understand (and are not overly scared by) DCO processes. (As anyone who I’ve already bored on the subject will attest, I’m a big believer that the DCO process is an excellent consent pathway and should not be as off-putting as it appears to be).
5. As an industry, we need to get moving
Political headwinds against renewables will only be changed by one thing – demonstrable investment in jobs and infrastructure. 2025 has been a necessary step change for the industry, but now is the time to get on and start delivering.
All in all, a really successful event. The enthusiasm and keenness to invest was palpable. Lots of opportunities and a sense that things are moving in the right direction.
Want to keep the conversation going? Get in touch for a chat Info@blackhallpowis.com
Find out more about the services we offer to support onshore renewables.
At Blackhall and Powis we’re not known to shy away from a challenge, or a bit of fun. It’s also important to us that we give back to our sector when we can so the RSABI charity, who provide valuable practical, financial and emotional support to the agricultural industry across Scotland, is close to our hearts.
We were delighted to take part in this year’s Great Scone Palace challenge held in the grounds of Scone Palace, Perth. Starting with a lovely welcome party held at Perth Racecourse the night before which included a celebrity racetrack run, auction and raffle, before the main event kicked off the next day.
We were among 17 teams entered into the event which consisted of four challenges:
- The Great Bale Obstacle Course – rolling a straw bale 100metres across a field then moving onto a variety of stacked bale heights to jump/clamber over and crawling on all fours beneath a net.
- The Palace Pathfinders Quest – solving riddles, decoding puzzles and following a trail of hidden clues all within the gardens and maze of the palace
- Tractor Pull – basically a tug of war against a tractor, but thankfully the tractor doesn’t pull back.
- Laser Clay Challenge – using laser shotguns to hit the clay as quickly and accurately as possible to build up points.
The challenges encouraged teamwork, determination, thought and agility. The weather changed in the afternoon with some heavy downpours but to all the team’s credit everyone soldiered on, and it gradually eased. Despite being a man short, our team overcame the odds to pull off a victory against some tough competition. It should be noted that we were able to rely on a friendly competitor to fill in for the clay challenge and a willing member of RSABI to help with the tractor pull. Collaboration at its finest!
The day was rounded off by an evening black tie ball within Scone Palace where we enjoyed a meal in the Long Gallery, the longest room in any private Scottish home. The celebrations continued with the team venturing out into Perth city centre until the small hours. Thankfully dancing was not part of the event challenges as we would have definitely finished in last place!
The trophy now sits proudly in our head office in Glasgow, and we’re already looking forward to defending our title next year.
As the UK accelerates its shift toward renewable energy, the role of land referencing has never been more critical. From wind farms and solar arrays to grid infrastructure and battery storage, every energy project begins with one foundational question: who owns the land?
Land referencing provides the answer – with precision, transparency, and legal certainty. It’s the quiet force behind Development Consent Orders (DCOs), Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), and infrastructure planning. And in the energy sector, where timelines are tight and stakeholder engagement is essential, it’s the difference between momentum and delay.
How Far We’ve Come
Land referencing has evolved dramatically in recent years. What was once a paper-heavy, manually intensive process is now a sophisticated blend of legal insight, stakeholder engagement, and digital mapping. Today’s referencing teams operate at the intersection of GIS, planning law, and data management—delivering real-time insights that shape infrastructure strategy from day one.
Modern referencing doesn’t just identify landowners—it enables early access for surveys, supports risk mitigation, and ensures that stakeholders are consulted with clarity and care. It’s become a strategic function, not just a technical one.
At Blackhall & Powis, we’ve embraced this evolution. Our team has supported over 150 renewable energy projects across the UK, working with leading developers including Ørsted, Vattenfall, Statkraft, SSE, and Scottish Power. From land assembly and stakeholder engagement to mapping and planning support, we offer a one-stop-shop for infrastructure delivery—tailored to the unique demands of the energy transition.
Looking Ahead: SoLR Land With Certainty Conference
We’re proud to sponsor the upcoming SoLR Land With Certainty Conference, taking place on 18th September 2025 in London. Hosted by the Society of Land Referencers (SoLR), this event brings together professionals from across the UK to explore best practices, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of land referencing in national infrastructure.
The programme promises updates on ethical standards and GIS innovation to the future of referencing in energy and transport. We are looking forward to meeting peers, sharing insights, and shape the future of our industry.
Our team is looking forward to attending, learning, and contributing to the conversation. As the energy transition gathers pace, we believe land referencing must be recognised not just as a technical function—but as a strategic enabler of change.
See you in London.