Councils which fail to make sufficient provision for future residential development will find themselves in a weak position when opposing gypsy encampments in their areas after the High Court ruled that caravans and mobile homes are to be treated as ‘a species of housing’ for
The Treasury must face the full brunt of an Iranian bank’s multi-billion-pound damages claim after it was unlawfully shut out of the UK financial sector as international sanctions against Iran were implemented. The bank was in 2009 hit with a financial restrictions order which was
In a decision which will be required reading for employers, trade unions and their members, the Court of Appeal has ruled on the thorny issue of exactly how much pay can be withheld from workers when they go on strike. Three teachers argued that the
Planning laws can be draconian in their effect – as one development company found out when it was ordered to tear down 10 three-storey town houses it had proceeded to construct although it only had official permission to build nine. A local authority had issued
An £85 charge levied on a motorist who outstayed his welcome in a free shopping centre car park triggered a contract dispute which raised novel issues and required the full attention of three Court of Appeal judges. The car park was fitted with prominent signs
Planning procedures can sometimes appear infuriatingly circular and never ending. In one extreme case, the High Court has – for the third time – overturned planning consent granted for a superstore on the outskirts of a Gloucestershire town. The plans had been consistently opposed by
In an age of easy travel and global companies, it can be hard to say where some employees ‘hang their hats’. In one case, a globe-trotting worker – who confined his time in the UK to less than 90 days each year in order to
The ever increasing pressure for construction of more new homes in the Green Belt was evident as the High Court gave its blessing to strategic plans for the expansion of residential development into the rural surroundings of Nottingham. Three local authorities had formulated a joint
Amidst rampant demand for scarce housing, empty homes are frowned upon by local authorities – however, compulsory purchase of such properties in the public interest can be exceedingly expensive. In one such case, a council was ordered to pay more than £877,000 in compensation to
As anticipated, British Gas has lodged an appeal against the decision of the Employment Tribunal (ET) in Lock v British Gas Trading Limited and Others that the Working Time Regulations 1998 could be interpreted ‘purposively’ in order to achieve compliance with the EU Working Time
