Foster v HMRC [2020] WTLR 145

Spring 2020 #178

Susan Elizabeth Foster (“Deceased”) owned 6.39 acres of agricultural land at Wolverhampton Road, Shifnal, Shropshire (“Site”). In March 2004 she entered into a joint venture agreement (“JVA”) with a developer who already owned adjoining land known as the Uplands just outside the defined development boundary of Shifnal. The site, which was located outside the boundary as defined in the local plan proposals map, was shown as “safeguarded land” (i.e. land removed from the green belt and identified as having the potential to meet future development needs beyond the plan period). The Deceased...

Palliser v HMRC [2018] WTLR 287

Spring 2018 #171

The appellant, Mr Palliser, disputed the valuation, for inheritance tax purposes, of a property in which his father’s estate owned an 88.4% share in the long leasehold and a third of the freehold title of the building it which it is located. HMRC had determined that the market value of the estate’s share at the date of the deceased’s death was £1,829,880. This determination was subsequently upheld; Mr Palliser appealed against those decisions, and submitted that the correct valuation should be £1,113,840.

The principal matter in issue was the correct interpretation of s.160 of...