Neil Collar, Brodies' Head of Planning, has been appointed to an expert multidisciplinary team that will support the Scottish Government in assessing the options for the introduction of an infrastructure charging mechanism.

Neil will be part of a group led by Peter Brett Associates, a leading development and infrastructure consultancy, which has been tasked by Scottish Ministers with exploring a variety of options to fund the infrastructure necessary to support new developments across Scotland.

The Scottish planning system is currently under review. Recent analysis of the system, conducted by a panel appointed by the Scottish Government, stated that linking infrastructure with planning development is currently the most significant challenge for the Scottish planning. The new team's research will form the basis of a white paper that is due to be published at the end of the year.

Neil said: "I'm delighted to be involved in this research, which is an opportunity to use my legal knowledge and practical experience to assist the research team in assessing the options for an infrastructure charging mechanism.

Other members of the team include Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial property and real estate consultant, and TradeRisks, a corporate finance and investment firm that provides independent advice, financing and risk management solutions to UK and international groups within the essential services, infrastructure and public sectors.