Staff Profile

Roles and Responsibilities 

Anna is a Lecturer at Newcastle Law School. 

Qualifications

PhD in Law, Newcastle University (Thesis title: Planning for Floods: An Analysis of Planning Law and Planning Practice in Flood Risk Management')

LLM in Environmental Regulation and Sustainable Development, Newcastle University

LLB (Hons), Newcastle University

Associate Fellowship in Higher Education of the Higher Education Academy

Postgraduate Certificate in Research Training

Previous Positions 

Research Associate on 'Net Zero Geothermal Research for District Heating Infrastructure Engineering' project, Newcastle University (April 2021 - September)

Research Assistant on 'Restorative Environmental Justice: A Study of the use of Enforcement Undertakings', Newcastle University (December 2020 - January 2021)

Research Assistant on ReFINE funded project researching the potential environmental and social impacts of shale gas exploitation (May 2016 - December 2016)

Solicitor, Samuel Phillips Law Firm (2006 - 2011)

Solicitor, Swinburne Maddison (2001 - 2006)

Current Work

Anna is Co-I on 'Net Zero Geothermal Research for District Heating Infrastructure Engineering' project. This is a £1.6m academia/industry multidisciplinary EPSRC funded project researching geothermal systems as part of a whole energy system involving researchers from Newcastle University, University of Glasgow and Durham University in association with EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration. I am lead on the Regulatory and Legal Implications work package.

Anna is a member of the International Energy Agency geothermal minewater expert group, which has the objective of promoting international collaboration and networking between nations, industry and industry organisations. I am researching the legal framework and context of the use of minewater heat. 

Main Expertise

English planning law as a means of environmental management.

The legal and regulatory context of emerging renewable/low carbon energy sources and techniques. 

Other Expertise

Environmental law

Land law

Undergraduate Teaching Modules

Land Law

Law and Land Use

Equity

Postgraduate Teaching Modules

Introduction to Planning Law

• Articles

  • McClean A, Pedersen OW. The role of regulation in geothermal energy in the UK. Energy Policy 2023, 173, 113378.
  • McClean A, Pedersen O. Who Owns the Heat? The Scope for Geothermal Heat to Contribute to Net Zero. Journal Of Environmental Law 2021, eqab038.

• Notes

  • Crowe MR, Suttle R, Richardson A, McClean A. Update. Environmental Law Review 2019, 21(2), 140-165.
  • Crowe MR, Suttle R, Richardson A, Stephens J, McClean A. Update. Environmental Law Review 2019, 21(1), 49-75.
  • Crowe MR, Suttle R, Richardson A, McClean A. Update. Environmental Law Review 2019, 21(3), 235-259.
  • Percy-Raine H, Cottrell J, Mellor S, McClean A. Update. Environmental Law Review 2019, 21(4), 321-339.

• Online Publication

  • McClean A, Pedersen O. Who owns Britain's underground heat? Answering this could help slash energy bills and carbon emissions. The Conversation: The Conversation, 2022. Available at: https://theconversation.com/who-owns-britains-underground-heat-answering-this-could-help-slash-energy-bills-and-carbon-emissions-176847.