The future for planning reforms: Moving to the next level?

Rebecca Crosdil considers the current state of play following the government’s proposals to ‘tear’ the current planning system down While there has been no official government confirmation that planning reforms have been put on hold, such reports can only increase the level of uncertainty that the housing industry, local authorities and local communities are currently …
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Construction focus: Professional indemnity insurance

Emily Holdstock and Oyin Ogunkanmi explore the current state of the professional indemnity insurance market and the practical steps that insureds and their clients can take to safeguard their respective interests during development The CLC noted a ‘widespread incidence’ of construction practices having to alter the kinds of work they undertake, or lose work, because …
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Curtilage – in or out?: Swanland Hall and the law following Blackbushe

Daniel Whittle, Olivia Heiniger and Adam Reeves consider a recent appeal decision and preceding authority relating to how the curtilage of a listed building is determined At appeal, one of the main issues to be decided was whether the cottage was within the curtilage of Swanland Hall. The answer to this question would determine whether …
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Ground Rent Bill: Bringing an old concept into a modern era

Matthew Weal considers the mechanics of the Ground Rent Bill and whether it achieves its aims The Bill is intended to restrict the payment of rents in qualifying future residential long leases such that these leases can make no financial demand in respect of a ground rent. The 2021 Queen’s Speech earlier this year marked …
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Planning decisions: A ‘proper whack’ mistake

Nicola Gooch considers how and if a mistaken planning decision can be rectified Local planning authorities simply do not have the legal power to unilaterally reverse a planning decision once it has been issued. Planning has had rather a torrid time in the press over the last few weeks. On 8 September, the Daily Mail …
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Boundary agreements: Fuzzy and uncertain

David Nuttall considers the High Court decision in Gibson v New and its potential consequences All taken together, it seems clear that Neilson v Poole is an authority for a boundary agreement being proprietary in nature, and binding on successors. In the recent High Court appeal of Gibson v New [2021], Murray J held that …
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Case study: Rent reviews

Clive Adams and Stathis Kosteletos consider a case where an index-linked rent review clause led to the rent increasing exponentially throughout the term of the lease When drafting agreements with clauses that are complex and do have mathematical elements to them, it is important to consider the wording of the agreement to ensure that they …
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