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Perspective - Blog

Serial referrals and abandoned adjudications: will the court grant an injunction prohibiting adjudication proceedings?

Published on 09 Oct 2017.

In Jacobs v Skanska, the TCC has recently held that starting a second adjudication on the same or similar issues is unreasonable but not oppressive and an injunction should not be granted. In the recent case of Jacobs UK Limited v Skanska Construction UK Ltd [2017] EWHC 2395 (TCC), Justice O'Farrell DBE clarified the courts will not restrain a party who opens and closes numerous adjudications for a tactical benefit but, the responding party may be granted a wasted costs order.

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Perspective - Blog

The Mayor of London's Affordable Housing SPG: 10 things you need to know (part 2)

Published on 30 Aug 2017.

This supplementary planning guidance, issued this month, builds on the Mayor's long-term aim for half of all new homes in London to be affordable (as defined in the London Plan). More will no doubt be heard in the revised London Plan when that emerges, but in the meantime here are some headlines which we hope help you cut through the SPG.

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Perspective - Blog

The Mayor of London's Affordable Housing SPG: 10 things you need to know (part 1)

Published on 24 Aug 2017.

This supplementary planning guidance, issued this month, builds on the Mayor's long-term aim for half of all new homes in London to be affordable (as defined in the London Plan). More will no doubt be heard in the revised London Plan when that emerges, but in the meantime here are some headlines which we hope help you cut through the SPG.

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Perspective - Blog

Who has to sign a s106 agreement?

Published on 02 Aug 2017.

The question of who needs to sign a s106 agreement can be a bone of contention between applicants and local planning authorities. Opposing views can risk planning consents being held up, or third parties challenging consents for failure to properly secure essential mitigation. So who, then, should sign planning agreements?

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Perspective - Blog

Is it game over for ground rent?

Published on 01 Aug 2017.

Considering the recent Government proposals to change the rules on ground rent and how those proposals may affect developers.

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Perspective - Blog

Advertisement consent – five rules for retailers

Published on 26 Jul 2017.

A summary of advertisement control for retailers in England, including deemed consent provisions, applications, standard conditions and discontinuance orders.

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Perspective - Blog

Advertisement consent – five rules for retailers

Published on 26 Jul 2017.

A summary of advertisement control for retailers in England, including deemed consent provisions, applications, standard conditions and discontinuance orders.

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Perspective - Blog

Stay in your lane! How expert witnesses can stray away from their duty to the Court

Published on 24 Jul 2017.

The judgement in 125 OBS Nominees (1) and anr v Lend Lease Construction (Europe) and anr [2017] provided useful judicial clarification as to when expert evidence from certain disciplines will and will not be appropriate and how experts can walk a fine line between advocating their client's case and providing independent evidence.

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Perspective - Blog

What is "reasonable" when making a recovery?

Published on 18 Jul 2017.

Recovering sums paid out in settlement through court proceedings is an area of law where the Court's ability to resolve a dispute according to what is fair, proportionate and commercially sensible is alive and well.

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Perspective - Blog

Complex contracts and intricate inconsistencies – a reminder of the court's approach to contractual interpretation

Published on 18 Jul 2017.

In a year in which the Supreme Court will have produced two Judgments on the topic of contractual interpretation, the TCC's judgment in 125 OBS v Lend Lease is a useful reminder of the courts' approach to resolving these disputes and their attempt to find a balance between the so-called literal and commercial approaches to interpretation.

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Perspective - Blog

Cherry picking in an adjudication is fine – as long as you're the Referring Party

Published on 03 Jul 2017.

It has been established for some time that Referring Parties have the right to 'cherry pick' its claim for the purpose of adjudication - essentially selecting part or parts of a wider application or dispute and referring those to an adjudicator to make an award on rather than the full dispute or an entire account.

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Perspective - Blog

Even More Challenging Times – 5 More Risks Following The Grant of Planning Permission

Published on 14 Jun 2017.

This post is the second in a two-part series in which we highlight ten areas where the risk of a third party challenge against the grant of planning permission might arise. The list we have given is not exhaustive, but all issues fall within the broad parameters for judicial review grounds, being decisions which have been taken irrationality, ultra vires (outside the scope of the authority's powers), or with procedural irregularity.

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Perspective - Blog

Challenging Times - 5 Risks Following The Grant of Planning Permission

Published on 06 Jun 2017.

Developers and local authorities will be only too aware that third parties can challenge a grant of planning permission through the courts by way of a judicial review. An application for such a challenge is costly, and must be made quickly. Further, it can only be brought on limited grounds. Whilst this may offer a developer or local authority some comfort, it is worth being aware of some of the more common grounds of challenge so that steps can be taken to minimise the risk of these arising.

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Perspective - Blog

Pre-loading the pre-app?

Published on 24 May 2017.

Discussion on the planning pre-app process considering cost and time considerations and the benefits and concerns of going through this initial advice process.

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Perspective - Blog

You can't park there!

Published on 17 May 2017.

A summary of the May 2017 Court of Appeal decision in Khodari relating to whether parking permit restrictions can be secured in agreements made under s106 Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

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Perspective - Blog

Restrictive Covenants: Public Policy v Legal Obligations

Published on 12 May 2017.

A commentary on the recent case of Millgate Developments v Smith concerning the breach of a restrictive covenant.

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Perspective - Blog

EIA – a new role for the planning system in considering the health impacts of development?

Published on 10 May 2017.

A summary of the EIA Regulations 2017 and the consideration as part of the planning application process of a proposed development's likely impacts on human health.

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Perspective - Blog

Reining back from last orders - The Protection of Pubs: an update

Published on 02 May 2017.

Provisions in the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 for the protection of pubs, including restrictions on changes of use and demolition, updated from the draft Bill.

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Perspective - Blog

Top Tips for Commercial Tenants – Lease Expiry

Published on 27 Apr 2017.

Commercial advice for business tenants approaching lease expiry

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Perspective - Blog

Let there be light

Published on 19 Apr 2017.

The importance of light in WELL Building Standards and how it sits within the context of planning law and rights of light

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Perspective - Blog

Cinema Wars: The Courts Awaken

Published on 10 Apr 2017.

A review of two recent planning law cases relating to cinema schemes, looking at s73 applications and the role of development plan policies in managing competition.

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Perspective - Blog

Permissions in Principle: a brave new planning world?

Published on 06 Apr 2017.

An overview of regulations relating to brownfield land registers and permission in principle including criteria for including land in a register and allocating it for housing development

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Perspective - Blog

MIPIM: 10 things we learnt about you

Published on 31 Mar 2017.

A round up of things we learnt during our first experience of MIPIM week, from what to wear to how to plan your diary and make the most of your new connections

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Perspective - Blog

Engaging with Development – do we always know what we need?

Published on 29 Mar 2017.

Comment on the need for public engagement in the planning and development process, following a ULI presentation on The Well-Tempered City (author Jonathan Rose)

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Perspective - Blog

Rent reductions in Side Letters: do they work?

Published on 29 Mar 2017. By Catherine Young, Senior Associate

Rent Reductions, rent reviews, side letters and retail.

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Perspective - Blog

What chance is there for developers railing against Stamp Duty Land Tax

Published on 28 Mar 2017.

After nearly three years of the increased residential Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rates and almost a year of the SDLT surcharge for additional properties, developers are mounting a call for reform. How successful can this be opposite a government under economic pressure?

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Perspective - Blog

Planning to Protect Pubs

Published on 09 Mar 2017.

A review of recent article 4 directions removing permitted development rights from pubs and proposed legislation to protect them from development and demolition.

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Perspective - Blog

Finally, a victory in the on-going battle against business rates

Published on 03 Mar 2017.

The Supreme Court ruling in Newbigin v Monks represents a welcome and important victory for UK property developers.

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Perspective - Blog

The new statutory obligation to report on payment practices

Published on 28 Feb 2017.

Key points (and links) for businesses to note about the draft Reporting Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017 which comes into effect in April 2017.

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Perspective - Blog

CIL review: A note of caution to charities

Published on 20 Feb 2017.

An overview of the CIL review team's recommendations for reform of CIL and consideration of the effect the loss of charitable exemptions could have on charities

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Perspective - Blog

The Housing White Paper: 5 ways to boost delivery

Published on 15 Feb 2017.

A round-up of five key themes in the Housing White Paper which aim to increase land available for housing and boost build-out rates.

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Perspective - Blog

Green belt development - don't forget the law!

Published on 13 Feb 2017.

A review of the housing white paper in relation to green belt development noting that the Green Belt (London and Home Counties) Act 1938 is a further hurdle.

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Perspective - Blog

Electronic Signatures – the future of executing documents?

Published on 03 Feb 2017.

You could be forgiven for failing to spot the release of The EU Regulation on Electronic Identification and Trust Services in the Internal Market (910/2014/EU) (the Regulation), released post EU referendum. We consider the impact of this and the Law Society's Guidance Note on electronic signatures (the Guidance Note).

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Perspective - Blog

Garden Villages - are they necessary?

Published on 09 Jan 2017.

A recent Government announcement has proposed 14 sites across England to be the first garden villages, with 3 further sites to be new garden towns. But with a country full of deserted and derelict buildings, are garden villages and towns the only way forward?

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Perspective - Blog

The ins and outs of tall buildings

Published on 18 Nov 2016.

Whilst iconic design can be fabulous, RPC asks if we will see developers and architects put more thought into the needs of their occupiers and surrounding landowners, and less of a focus on headline-grabbing exterior designs.

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Perspective - Blog

Building on Brexit

Published on 10 Nov 2016.

The Impact of Brexit on the Construction Industry and the House of Commons Briefing Paper

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Perspective - Blog

Office to Residential Permitted Development Rights – an update

Published on 08 Aug 2016.

The rights to convert a building from office use to residential without needing to submit a planning application are not new, although a recent decision from the Planning Court have brought them back to the headlines and suggest that they may be more flexible than anticipated.

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Perspective - Blog

Brexit and the housing crisis – where are we now?

Published on 01 Aug 2016.

It is only a couple of months since the Government restated its 'one million homes by 2020' pledge. It was always going to be a big ask, with talk of land banking, constructions skills shortages and delays in the planning system being bandied about on a regular basis

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Perspective - Blog

Drones: don't fly out of bounds (legally)

Published on 27 Jul 2016.

Various commercial industries have already woken up to the myriad opportunities offered by drone technologies. Whilst the regulatory regime evolves, it is important that companies don’t fall foul of the law.

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Perspective - Blog

Planning: the sequential test

Published on 26 Jul 2016.

For those involved in retail development, a recent Planning Court case serves as a helpful summary and update on the interpretation of the sequential test set out in para 24 of the NPPF.

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Perspective - Blog

Break Notice – All 4 one?

Published on 27 May 2016.

The recent Chancery Division case of Levett-Dunn & ors v NHS Property Services Ltd [2016] EWHC 943 (Ch) considers the validity of a break notice served on four landlords, all "care of" the same address.

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Perspective - Blog

"Innovative and sustainable" – Rio Ferdinand launches new redevelopment and regeneration model

Published on 23 Mar 2016.

Former England football captain and Manchester Utd Defender Rio Ferdinand presented his new charity, The Legacy Foundation, to delegates at MIPIM last week.

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Perspective - Blog

Global Real Estate Transactions to Hit $1tn by 2020

Published on 21 Mar 2016.

According to a new report released on 15 March by JLL, the global ageing population will drive real estate transaction volumes over $1tn (£704bn) globally by 2020, up from $700bn (£484bn) in 2015.

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Perspective - Blog

Urban Land Institute publishes Second Edition of acclaimed Build to Rent Guide

Published on 07 Mar 2016.

Last week the Urban Land Institute published a Second Edition of its acclaimed Build to Rent Guide - hailed by some in the market as a "Bible" for the PRS industry.

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Perspective - Blog

NEC must extend culture and spirit to lawyers to end curse of the Z Clause

Published on 11 Feb 2016.

In the NEC Users' Group Newsletter (No.75 November 2015), Rudi Klein – in his article, "Revisiting the curse of the Z clause" (page 2) – remarks that, "Unfortunately, through the 'loophole' of option Z, far too many NEC contracts are amended beyond recognition and fail to deliver as they should".

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Perspective - Blog

Housing shortage is a construction industry skills crisis

Published on 18 Jan 2016.

Headlines focus on the emotive issue of hard-working families being unable to afford their own homes, and the Government’s pledge to get Britain building.

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Perspective - Blog

Cavendish win on penalties: Supreme Court makes finger-tip save of ageing doctrine

Published on 06 Jan 2016.

The Supreme Court has provided long awaited clarification of the law on penalty clauses and liquidated damages, upholding the "penalty rule" but further limiting its utility in a commercial setting.

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Perspective - Blog

Titan v Colliers – the price of everything and value of nothing

Published on 30 Dec 2015.

The Court of Appeal recently overturned the High Court's judgment in the case of Titan v Colliers.

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Perspective - Blog

No returns for M&S following Supreme Court ruling

Published on 11 Dec 2015.

The Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Marks and Spencer plc (M&S) v BNP Paribas Securities Trust Company (Jersey) Ltd (BNPP).

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Perspective - Blog

Squatting: an own goal?

Published on 01 Dec 2015.

In October 2015, a Manchester hotel undergoing extensive refurbishment works was occupied by squatters and housing activists.

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