News and Resources
Below is a selection of news items, case notes, articles, books and papers authored by members of Chambers.
There is also a separate Archive of Inspector’s Reports in respect of applications to register new town or village greens.
Permission Refused for Redevelopment of the Former Hampstead Police Station as a Primary School
A Planning Inspector has dismissed two joined appeals brought by the Government’s Department for Education and Science against decisions of the London Borough of Camden refusing planning permission and listed building consent for a change of use and associated works to convert the Grade II listed Former Hampstead Police Station at Rosslyn Hill, London NW3 1PD into a one form entry Primary School. Planning permission and listed building consent had been refused on four grounds: negative impacts in terms of traffic congestion, noise, air quality and heritage value of the existing building. As well as the main parties, a local residents’ group, Hampstead Community for Responsible Development (HCRD) participated in the appeals as a Rule 6 party. Read more
Richard Honey Awarded Silk
Francis Taylor Building is delighted that the Queen has accepted the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor that Richard Honey be appointed Queen's Counsel. Read more
Heathrow Airport Limited Successful in Supreme Court
Judgment has been handed in down this morning in the case of R (on the application of Friends of the Earth Ltd and others) (Respondents) v Heathrow Airport Ltd (Appellant) [2020] UKSC 52 Read more
High Court Dismisses Challenge to Parole Board Guidance
The High Court has dismissed a judicial review challenging the lawfulness of guidance issued by the Parole Board in the wake of the John Worboys judgment which gives advice to its members on the consideration of allegations, including unproven allegations, which have been made against a prisoner. Read more
The Court of Appeal Has Handed Down Judgment in London Borough of Southwark v Ludgate House Limited [2020] EWCA Civ 1637.
The case concerned whether particular rooms in a vacant office building were in separate rateable occupation. The owners of the office building entered into an agreement with a site security company for the provision of property guardians to occupy the rooms for domestic use as a means of keeping the site secure prior to its redevelopment. It is fairly widespread approach to rates mitigation. Read more
Decision on Network Rail’s Suffolk Level Crossing Reduction Order
The Secretary of State has decided to make the Network Rail (Suffolk Level Crossing Reduction) Order subject to a number of modifications. Read more
Decision on Network Rail’s Cambridgeshire Level Crossing Reduction Order
The Secretary of State has decided to make the Network Rail (Cambridgeshire Level Crossing Reduction) Order subject to a number of modifications. This is the first decision to be published by the Secretary of State concerning the three Level Crossing Reduction Orders simultaneously pursued by Network Rail in 2017, covering Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex. Read more
High Court to Consider if the Planning Policy on Traveller Sites 2015 is Unlawfully Discriminatory
On 10th and 11th December 2020, the High Court will hear Lisa Smith v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – which raises questions of significant public interest concerning discrimination against Gypsies and Travellers. Read more
Permission Has Been Refused for a Major Development on the Olympic Park Legacy Site on the Basis of Its Poor Design
Planning permission has been refused for 343 homes (including 58% affordable) and commercial space in the Olympic regeneration site and Opportunity Area of Pudding Mill. The London Legacy Development Corporation refused permission for the scheme on the basis of its poor design. Read more
High Court Quashes Grant of Planning Permission for Residential Skyscraper in Birmingham
The High Court has quashed the grant of planning permission by Birmingham City Council for what would be the second tallest building in the city of Birmingham, a proposed 51 storey residential block in the city centre and in close proximity to the new HS2 station at Curzon Street, following a concession by the Defendant City Council acknowledging the unlawfulness of the grant. The application documentation had been criticised by both Historic England and the Victorian Society for its failure to consider correctly the impact on neighbouring heritage assets. Read more