‘Following a two day hearing earlier this month, the Court of Appeal (Singh and Lewis LJJ) has handed down judgment in Greenfields (IOW) Limited v Isle of Wight Council [2025] EWCA Civ 488 overturning the decision of the High Court and finding that the grant of planning permission for 473 dwellings, a café, doctors’ surgery and other associated infrastructure at Westridge Acre Park on the Isle of Wight was unlawful on grounds of a failure to publish the section 106 planning obligation.’

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Francis Taylor Building, 16th April 2025

Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk

The recent case of Abbotsley Limited v Pheasantland Limited [2025] EWHC 654 (KB) has reiterated the practical difficulty faced when seeking to obtain an ‘early determination’ of a possession case.

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Gatehouse Chambers, 15th April 2025

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

Contrary to the earlier decision in InnovatorOne, the High Court has held in Orchard v Dhillon [2025] EWHC 834 (Ch) that a right to recover property under s.26 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 may be enforceable against a successor in title to the party who had infringed that Act’s “general prohibition”.

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Hailsham Chambers, 17th April 2025

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

‘A coroner has expressed wide-ranging concerns about how the NHS cares for women during menopause after the death of a 54-year-old teacher who killed herself after a decline in her mental health.’

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The Guardian, 29th April 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Inspector Pleasant has today (28 April 2025) refused a s78 appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a material change of use to two gypsy/traveller pitches as well as engineering operations. She has also dismissed a s174 appeal (which included a deemed planning application pursuant to ground (a)) against the issuance of an Enforcement Notice concerning the unauthorised development and upheld the Enforcement Notice (as varied). The appeals related to land in Keysoe, Bedfordshire and the local planning authority is Bedford Borough Council.’

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Francis Taylor Building, 29th April 2025

Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk

‘Short marriages are a factor which might be raised in financial remedy cases as an issue which should affect the outcome. This blog is written to help readers consider how the court will view this distinct factor when exercising their powers in relation to the division of financial resources from a marriage, as well as future income division.’

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Five Pump Court Chambers, 29th April 2025

Source: www.5pumpcourt.com

‘The twelve consistory court judgments circulated in April 2025 include:

– Reordering, extensions and other building works
– Exhumation
– Churchyards and burials.’

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Law & Religion UK, 30th April 2025

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

‘In January 2025, the current Chief Coroner published new ‘Bench Guidance’ for coroners. The Guidance is clearly organised, wide-ranging, well written and accessible free of charge.’

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Guildhall Chambers, 24th April 2025

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

‘The Court of Appeal (Sir Keith Lindblom (SPT) and Singh and Holgate LJs) has dismissed an appeal by Frack Free Balcombe Resident’s Association against the High Court’s rejection of its challenge to an Inspector’s grant of planning permission for the exploration and appraisal of hydrocarbons near Balcombe in the High Weald AONB. The Appellant sought to challenge the High Court’s decision on four grounds. Each of those grounds was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which also refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.’

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Francis Taylor Building, 17th April 2025

Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk

‘This post considers the decision of the High Court in BDW Trading Ltd v Ardmore Construction Ltd & Ors [2025] EWHC 434 (TCC).’

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Falcon Chambers, 22nd April 2025

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

‘A famous anti-piracy campaign from the early 2000s which became a part of pop culture history may have itself have been the product of piracy.’

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The Independent, 29th April 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Descriptions of coffee pods as “compostable eco capsules” were misleading as they could not be composted at home, the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled.’

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The Guadian, 30th April 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The Court of Appeal announced on the day of the hearing of the appeal against the decision of Lieven J in Re J: Local Authority consent to Deprivation of Liberty [2024] EWHC 1690 (Fam), that it would allow the appeal. Today (29 April 2025), it gave its reasons for doing so (J v Bath and North East Somerset Council & Ors [2025] EWCA Civ 478.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 29th April 2025

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

‘Senior management at the miscarriage of justice watchdog were told there was a “hole at the heart” of the organisation as MPs criticised its working from home policy and asked executives if they felt they were the right people to continue leading it.’

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The Guardian, 29th April 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘For most of its history, the common law legal system has regarded live answers from the witness box as the ultimate form of evidence, looking down its nose at other sources, above all the often-despised hearsay. Cross-examination of witnesses was the gold standard method of testing evidence, jealously guarded particularly in criminal trials. The process of an accused confronting their accuser, with the tribunal of fact judging the witness’s honesty or reliability, was invested with almost magical powers of revelation.’

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2 Hare Court, 15th April 2025

Source: www.2harecourt.com

‘The Court of Appeal has handed down judgment in this case addressing the material increase in risk of contracting mesothelioma.’

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12 King's Bench Walk, 22nd April 2025

Source: 12kbw.co.uk

‘Dr Shah faced a number of allegations from Colleague A and B. The Tribunal rejected much of Colleague A’s evidence. Dr Shah did, however, admit he had called her “a good girl” on occasions, and that he called one or more female colleagues “bird”. This constituted harassment related to sex. In relation to Colleague B, the Tribunal found the Respondent inappropriately touched her without consent. In October 2014, he put his arm around her shoulder, leaned in to hug her, and squeezed her bottom. In October 2019, he brushed his body against her breasts, put his hand on her hip and squeezed her bottom. This constituted sexual harassment and was sexually motivated. Of course, the Tribunal considered these acts did amount to misconduct, justified impairment, and ultimately led it to imposed a sanction of 12 months suspension with review.’

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2 Hare Court, 15th April 2025

Source: www.2harecourt.com

‘The document emphasises the legal coherence of GB’s current DEI framework, and the potential legal risks involved. Key topics covered in the paper include:

Impact of US Policy Changes: The US administration’s rollback of DEI initiatives could create uncertainty for GB employers, but GB equality law remains unchanged.

Differences in Legal Frameworks: The legal systems in the US and GB differ significantly. US ‘affirmative action’ and GB ‘positive action’ have historically been very different in practice, with GB law having always prohibited race-conscious recruitment and promotion practices.

US Supreme Court Cases: Key US Supreme Court cases, such as Bakke and SFFA v. Harvard, illustrate the evolving legal landscape in the US around affirmative action, which brings the principles closer in line with the approach that has always been followed under GB law.

Legal Risks for GB Employers: Blindly rolling back DEI policies purely because Trump is rolling back US initiatives could increase legal risks for GB employers.

Importance of DEI Policies: Thoughtful DEI policies drafted in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 not only comply with legal requirements here but also enhance workplace diversity, employee retention, and overall business performance.’

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Cloisters, 9th April 2025

Source: www.cloisters.com

‘How does Artificial Intelligence affect art and cultural institutions? Richard and Clarissa talk to Emily Gould, Assistant Director of the Institute of Art and Law, to discuss the use of creative works for training generative AI; who owns rights to AI produced works; and the use of AI in art attribution. They try their hands at AI-produced art themselves, with slightly worrying results.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 23rd April 2025

Source: www.39essex.com

‘In what must surely be one of the longest running cases in medical professional discipline (and the hardest to summarise pithily), the High Court has recently given some guidance in cases where an erased doctor applies multiple times to be restored to the register.’

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2 Hare Court, 15th April 2025

Source: www.2harecourt.com