Jamie Whittle
Jamie Whittle is a Partner at R & R Urquhart LLP Solicitors, based in Forres in the North of Scotland. His work includes advising clients on a broad range of environmental and rural land related matters, including renewable energy, judicial reviews and alternative dispute resolution.
He was a Morehead-Cain Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA where he received BA (Hons) in modern languages, before completing his LLB in Scots law at the University of Edinburgh, and an MSc (Distinction) in human ecology at the Centre for Human Ecology. Since 2008 he has taught the legal diploma elective on environmental and renewable energy law at the University of Edinburgh School of Law. He is presently the chairman of two environmental charities relating to conservation and environmental education.
Practice Area
Panel
- Scottish Panel
Qualified Year
- 2002
Membership
- Writer to the Signet (WS)
- Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (FRSA)
Education
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ' BA (Hons) modern languages
- University of Edinburgh ' LLB Scots law
- Centre for Human Ecology/Open University ' MSC (Distinction) human ecology
2 Contributions by Jamie Whittle
PRACTICE NOTES
Flood risk in Scottish property transactions and development: legislation, planning, due diligence, SuDS, CAR and mitigation
This Practice Note considers the law and policy surrounding flooding in Scotland:
offering a synopsis of legislation, policy, and the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 (FRM(S)A 2009)
setting out how flood risk is managed and the responsibilities of various statutory bodies
signposting guidance for developers on instances where flood impacts must be evaluated as part of due diligence
exploring potential strategies to reduce flooding, alongside wider mitigation
examining controlled activity licences
Flooding can inflict severe harm on people and enterprises. The Scottish government has recognised the growing dangers and consequences of flooding across Scotland due to climate change, and has produced national policy and devolved law to address the effects of heightened flood risk in Scotland. These policies and legislation embrace catchment-scale, precautionary methods for managing flood risk and emphasise the need for flood management to regulate new development that could be vulnerable to flooding or otherwise increase flood risk. The Scottish government, working with other public bodies, has created both legislative and practical mechanisms to help developers and the wider public identify and lessen flooding risks, and to ensure that developers behave responsibly in how they approach flooding, supporting developers and the public in making responsible choices today...
Property
PRACTICE NOTES
Scottish habitats, wildlife and landscape constraints on development: protected sites and species, INNS, trees, water/marine works, and licensing under NPF4 and post-Brexit regimes for developers and landowners
STOP PRESS:
The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Offshore Wind) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2026, anticipated to commence on 25 May 2026, set out a tailored regime of compensatory measures for relevant offshore wind activity, revising the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Notably, the standard compensatory provisions are switched off for relevant offshore wind projects and substituted with fresh obligations tied to enhancements for the UK MPA network. This Practice Note will shortly be revised to capture these updates.
The Practice Note reviews controls and regulatory considerations safeguarding wildlife, habitats and landscapes in Scotland, and how these may affect and influence developers and landowners. It surveys the legal and regulatory framework for protected sites, including special areas of conservation (SACs), special protection areas (SPAs), sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), Ramsar sites, marine protected areas (MPAs), national scenic areas (NSAs) and wild land areas (WLAs). It outlines which species, plants, hedgerows and trees are protected, and those categorised as invasive non-native species (INNS). It also addresses engineering operations within the water environment and the range of authorities responsible for regulating controlled activities and permits. Policy and legislative context Scotland recognised...
Property
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