County council defends legal challenge over sale of land for rail freight interchange
Objectors to Hertfordshire County Council’s sale of land for a rail freight interchange have lost a judicial review application over the validity of the sale.
NEWS
Law Society to hold special general meeting in July as row about conveyancing guidance comes to a head
The Law Society will next month (23 July) hold a special general meeting after the Property Lawyers Action Group (PLAG) requisitioned a debate and vote on a motion of no confidence in Chancery Lane’s ability to represent members who undertake conveyancing.
Developer loses Court of Appeal battle over allocation of funds from Building Safety Fund to replace cladding on tower blocks in Birmingham
Residential developer Redrow has lost a Court of Appeal case over the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ decision to allocate funds from the Building Safety Fund (BSF) to replace cladding on two blocks of flats.
Urban farm operator backed by developer loses High Court bid for relief as council seeks forfeiture of lease
The operator of an urban farm in London has lost a High Court bid to avoid the forfeiture of its lease for non-compliance with relevant covenants.
Extension in no return period to 12 months for sites covered by request to leave incompatible with Human Rights Act, High Court finds
The High Court has ruled that new police powers introduced by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 are incompatible with the Human Rights Act 1998 as they constitute unjustified race discrimination against travellers and gypsies.
New high street rental auctions regime to come into effect this summer, Government says
Local authorities will from this summer gain a power to require landlords to rent out persistently vacant shops and other commercial properties as part of attempts to reinvigorate high streets, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has confirmed.
Half of all urban councils impacted by proposed brownfield planning reform raise concern
Reading Borough Council has joined nine urban councils in questioning Government proposals on brownfield reform after raising concerns that the changes could override local planning policies.
Government secures remediation order against freeholder in first use of Building Safety Act powers
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) has issued a remediation order requiring a freeholder to resolve building safety issues with a 16-storey tower block in Stevenage.
Court of Appeal upholds decision by planning inspector to allow crematorium to be built on Green Belt
A crematorium can be built on Green Belt land with contravening the Cremation Act 1902 or environmental protections, the Court of Appeal has found.
City council facing judicial review over decision to demolish brutalist office block
Birmingham City Council has been threatened with a judicial review of its decision to approve the demolition of an iconic brutalist building in the city centre, amid claims the local authority misinterpreted local policy concerning the carbon impact of demolishing a building.
Gypsy and Traveller sites in the Green Belt
Roderick Morton examines a recent s288 challenge against the decision of an inspector to refuse permission on appeal for a material change of use of land in the Green Belt for the stationing of caravans for residential occupation.
Court of Appeal rejects challenge over enforcement notice and application of Murfitt principle
A planning inspector misdirected himself in a dispute over the construction of house in Beaconsfield and misunderstood case law, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
