Highways, Commons and Open Spaces

FTB is acknowledged by the leading legal directories as a leader in the field of town and village greens, common land, rural affairs and rights of way and highways.

Barristers regularly appear at public and statutory inquiries and in court and advise on matters relating to:

Registration and de-registration of Town and Village Greens and Commons
Rights of way including footpaths, byways, bridleways, cycle tracks and the England Coastal Path
Highways including DCOs
Use of open space
Land designations (AONB, National Parks)
Level crossings
Map Modification Orders
Traffic Regulation Orders
Stopping Up Orders
Rural planning matters

Regular clients include Government, public authorities, statutory consultees, campaign and amenity organisations, land owners and private individuals.

Over the years, members of Chambers have appeared in almost all the major cases in the courts relating to town and village greens, including four of the leading Supreme Court cases: Combined appeals in R (Lancashire County Council) v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and another, and R (NHS Property Services Ltd) v Surrey County Council and another (conjoined appeals), Lewis v Redcar, Barkas v North Yorkshire CC and Newhaven.

Richard Honey KC is an editor of the third edition of Gadsden & Cousins on Commons and Greens, the definitive text book on this subject. Annabel Graham Paul contributed the chapter on Wales. Research assistance was provided by Daisy Noble.

Ned Westaway is an author of sixth edition of Highways Law, a popular and well-established text covering all aspects of the law governing highways.

10

Sep' 24

Common Land Exchange Application Allowed.

The Environment Secretary has ordered that an extensive area of registered common land in Devon is deregistered, and that replacement land is registered in its place.

02

Sep' 24

Open Spaces Society Granted Permission to Intervene in Supreme Court Wild Camping Appeal

The Supreme Court has granted the Open Spaces Society (OSS) permission to intervene in the upcoming appeal of the decision of the Court of Appeal in Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2023] EWCA Civ 927.

"Francis Taylor Building fields barristers well-versed in inquires, court appearance and advisory work on village greens, rights of way, highways and rural planning matters."

Legal 500, 2025

"FTB is an excellent set with first-rate barristers. I always have confidence in their ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters."

Chambers and Partners, 2023

"FTB enjoys a strong reputation for rural planning and environmental law. Members are particularly recognised for their strength in town and village green matters, as well as development and rights of way disputes."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

"Barristers at the set are equipped to handle a variety of disputes arising in rural settings, including those concerning the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Highways Act 1980. Member of FTB regularly contribute to leading textbooks."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

"Francis Taylor Building handles a wide array of agricultural matters, with particular strength in public law-related cases. Areas of strength include common land, town and village green applications, rights of way, and easements."

Legal 500, 2022

10

Sep' 24

Common Land Exchange Application Allowed.

The Environment Secretary has ordered that an extensive area of registered common land in Devon is deregistered, and that replacement land is registered in its place.