Extension of Time – Local Government Law

‘Whether Kerr J was wrong when he exercised his discretion to extend time for a challenge to be brought by a claim for judicial review against a planning permission granted more than five and a half years before the claim was issued was the question at the heart of the appeal in R (Thornton Hall Hotel Ltd) v Wirral MBC (2019) EWCA Civ 737. The appeal raised two main issues: first, in view of the delay of more than five and a half years, whether the Judge erred in extending time for the claim to be brought, under CPR r.3.1(2)(a); and second, having regard to the substance of the claim, whether he was wrong not to exercise his discretion to refuse relief under Section 31(6) of the Senior Courts Act 1981. The appeal was dismissed on both issues.’

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Local Government Law, 2nd May

Source: local-government-law.11kbw.com

Council takes 10 years not to make a decision on village green status – The Guardian

Posted April 25th, 2019 in commons, compensation, delay, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘Ombudsman orders Cornwall to pay compensation over locals’ plan for land near Saltash.’

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The Guardian, 25th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Regulator warns policy makers to “think very carefully” before setting up charity for singular public project – Local Government Lawyer

‘The fact that more than £50m of public funds was spent by the Garden Bridge Trust without producing demonstrable public benefit or impact represented “a failure for charity which risks undermining public trust”, the Charity Commission has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th April 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Landlord given suspended sentence and ordered to pay £300k+ after hiding families in windowless rooms – Local Government Lawyer

‘A landlord who hid families in windowless rooms after claiming to a council that he had complied with an enforcement notice has been fined £25,000 and ordered to pay a further £266,177 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High court victory for group seeking to build ‘black Canary Wharf’ – The Guardian

Posted March 22nd, 2019 in covenants, minorities, news, planning, sale of land by tracey

‘One of the UK’s largest black communities is celebrating a victory in the high court over a contested piece of land it wants to transform into a “black Canary Wharf”.’

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The Guardian, 21st March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judicial review of Heathrow airport third runway decision begins – The Guardian

‘Five judicial reviews challenging the legality of the government’s decision to allow a third runway at Heathrow airport have begun in the high court.’

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The Guardian, 11th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

District council defeats challenge to listing of pub as asset of community value – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 11th, 2019 in appeals, assets of community value, fire, local government, news, planning by sally

‘East Hertfordshire District Council has successfully defended its decision to list a currently empty pub as an asset of community value.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Mixed fortunes for UK government in planning rulings – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government has successfully defended a legal challenge against its decision to adopt a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in England last year, but guidance contained in that framework concerning ‘fracking’ has been ruled to be unlawful.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th March 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Report recommends improvements to English planning appeals – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 15th, 2019 in appeals, case management, delay, inquiries, local government, news, planning by sally

‘An independent review of the planning appeal process in England and Wales has made 22 recommendations, aimed at halving the time taken for an appeal by June 2020.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th February 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Court of Appeal reinforces strict six-week planning challenge time limit – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 14th, 2019 in appeals, limitations, news, planning, time limits by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has refused to extend the six-week statutory time limit for challenging a planning inspector’s decision, in a case where the individual had been prevented from filing on the day of the deadline.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th February 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Councils given new powers to block phone boxes being built – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 14th, 2019 in local government, news, planning, telecommunications by sally

‘New phone boxes will be blocked from being built by councils for first time, following a landmark ruling from the High Court.’

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Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Planning appeal decisions could be cut by 5 months – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

Posted February 12th, 2019 in appeals, delay, housing, planning, press releases, reports by tracey

‘Independent review says the average time to decide a planning appeal inquiry could be slashed from 47 to 26 weeks.’

Full press release

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government , 12th February 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-housing-communities-and-local-government

Anti-fracking campaigner loses challenge over refusal by inspector to adjourn – Local Government Lawyer

‘A campaigner against fracking has failed in a High Court claim that a planning inspector’s refusal to adjourn an inquiry was a breach of the rules of natural justice.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th February 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Dalek shed museum faces extermination over planning rules – BBC News

Posted January 25th, 2019 in listed buildings, news, planning by tracey

‘A family-run science fiction museum may be exterminated because a Dalek display does not comply with planning regulations.’

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BBC News, 24th January 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

City council concedes defeat after judge quashes open land planning permissions – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 23rd, 2019 in listed buildings, local government, news, planning by sally

‘The Mayor of Liverpool has said the city council will accept a High Court ruling quashing its grant of planning permissions for a scheme including the building on an area of open land of 39 new dwellings and the conversion of a historic house into 12 apartments.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st January 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘I feel conned’: garden bridge donors plan to sue over failed scheme – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2018 in charities, news, planning, repayment by sally

‘The charity behind London’s garden bridge project faces being sued by wealthy donors who fear their money might not be returned even after the much-criticised scheme collapsed, with a loss to taxpayers of almost £50m.’

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The Guardian, 17th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK fracking policy faces court challenges – The Guardian

‘Ministers face a pair of legal challenges to their planning rules on fracking this week, from a national environmental group and the son of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.’

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The Guardian, 16th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Thea Osmund-Smith successful in High Court – No. 5 Chambers

Posted December 12th, 2018 in assets of community value, housing, local government, news, planning by sally

‘Judgment was recently handed down in West Oxfordshire District Council v (1) Secretary of State for Housing Communites and Local Government (2) Rosconn Strategic Land Limited [2018] EWHC 3065 (Admin).’

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No. 5 Chambers, 6th December 2018

Source: www.no5.com

High Court rules that Mineral Planning Authorities are not bound by statutory definition of fracking and can apply their own wider definitions – Garden Court Chambers

‘Councillor Paul Andrews was seeking permission at the High Court on 5 November 2018 to judicially review the Government’s decision to issue a written ministerial statement (WMS) on 17 May 2018 regarding the way in which local authorities should determine planning applications for fracking operations.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 6th November 2018

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Parish fails in High Court challenge to permissions for 229 homes – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 11th, 2018 in housing, local government, news, notification, planning by sally

‘East Bergholt Parish Council has failed in a High Court challenge to decisions by Babergh District Council to grant planning permissions for 229 new homes in the Suffolk village.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th December 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk