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.

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.

23
Oct' 24
Deregistration of Town and Village Greens: Supreme Court Refuses Permission to Appeal

The Supreme Court on Monday 21 October 2024 refused the application for permission to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s judgment in R (oao Strack) v SSEFRA

Read more
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. 

Read more

"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
23
Oct' 24
Deregistration of Town and Village Greens: Supreme Court Refuses Permission to Appeal

The Supreme Court on Monday 21 October 2024 refused the application for permission to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s judgment in R (oao Strack) v SSEFRA

Read more
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. 

Read more

King's Counsel

Andrew Tait KC

Call: 1981 | Silk: 2003

Morag Ellis KC

Call: 1984 | Silk: 2006

Douglas Edwards KC

Call: 1992 | Silk: 2010

Gregory Jones KC

Call: 1991 | Silk: 2011

James Pereira KC

Call: 1996 | Silk: 2014

Saira Kabir Sheikh KC

Call: 2000 | Silk: 2014

Jeremy Phillips KC

Call: 2004 | Silk: 2018

Richard Honey KC

Call: 2003 | Silk: 2021

Junior Counsel

Philip Petchey

Call: 1976

Timothy Comyn

Call: 1980

Emyr Jones

Call: 1999

Cain Ormondroyd

Call: 2007

Annabel Graham Paul

Call: 2008

Ned Westaway

Call: 2009

David Graham

Call: 2010

George Mackenzie

Call: 2011

Alexander Greaves

Call: 2012

Caroline Daly

Call: 2013

Charles Streeten

Call: 2013

Charles Forrest

Call: 2014

Merrow Golden

Call: 2014

Horatio Waller

Call: 2014

Daisy Noble

Call: 2015

Charles Merrett

Call: 2016

Esther Drabkin-Reiter

Call: 2017

Brendan Brett

Call: 2017

Conor Fegan

Call: 2018

Jonathan Welch

Call: 2019

Michael Rhimes

Call: 2019

Michael Feeney

Call: 2021

Mark O’Brien O’Reilly

Call: 2021, 2023 (Ireland)

Stephanie Bruce-Smith

Call: 2021

Claire Nevin

Call: 2021

Armin Solimani

Call: 2023

Gabriel Nelson

Call: 2023