Environmental Permitting and Planning

Sub-Service of Environmental Services
Lead Contact
Alex Rothchild
Environmental Services

Environmental permitting and planning services

Environmental permitting and planning is more than a compliance requirement. It is central to successful project development and execution, building stakeholder confidence and managing financial and reputational risks.  

Arcadis treats permitting as a critical component of project resilience. By combining regulatory expertise with strategic planning, digital tools, and global experience, we deliver a structured approach that supports regulatory approvals. Most importantly, we make it easier to achieve lasting environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact, reduce project risks, and maintain financial continuity.

Overcoming delays in infrastructure and energy projects 

Environmental permitting is becoming a key constraint on infrastructure delivery, especially for energy and climate adaptation projects. Organizations face permitting gridlocks that can add years and significant costs, particularly in the renewable energy space, disrupting capital planning and slowing project pipelines.   

Projects need regulatory foresight to maintain structural, financial, and operational resilience over time. In today’s ESG-focused landscape, sustained performance and reputational stability are critical for investor transparency.  Permitting now plays a central role in how organizations manage risk at an executive level. 

 

 

Guiding projects from permitting to approval

Our integrated permitting approach supports complex projects that balance economic priorities with regulatory demands and social obligations. 

Securing the next generation of European energy

Energy company Plug is developing a green hydrogen production facility in the Port of Antwerp. We are guiding the company through the entire permit process for the construction and operation of the 100-megawatt plant, including the required energy study and stakeholder coordination. 

Expected in 2027, the facility will produce approximately 35 tons of green hydrogen per day,  contributing to Europe’s energy transition. 

Expert approval management for large-scale hydrogen infrastructure

We managed approvals for the Tree Energy Solutions Green Energy Hub, a major project supporting Germany's energy transition. Our team led stakeholder engagement and communication, developed a zoning plan, and secured permits in accordance with the Federal Immission Control Act and water law requirements. 

This coordinated approach accelerates hydrogen infrastructure development, fueling up to 10% of Germany's primary energy demand by 2050. 

Federal funding success for the Norfolk resilience project

Norfolk partnered with Arcadis to develop its National Disaster Resilience Competition application, securing $120.5 million in federal funding. Working with city leaders, we developed program management work packages, design guidance, and permitting strategies, and provided engineering support during construction, integrating innovative solutions like shoreline defense, pervious pavement, and natural solutions like rain barrels and gardens. 

By integrating environmental permitting and planning into project strategy, we guarantee investment certainty and reduce gridlock. This ensures long-term operational viability through future climate models and adaptation measures.

700+
permitting and planning professionals globally, delivering localized regulatory expertise
Supporting Europe’s next-generation
green hydrogen facility through full permitting process
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