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Freedom of information: access denied by ministerial veto
Not since September 2012 when the Attorney General exercised powers under section 53(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) blocking the release of correspondence between Prince Charles and seven government departments has there been a matter likely to attract attention to the use of the ministerial veto.
Read more2014 – Another Year of Planning Reform
The past few years have seen a raft of changes to planning regime and 2014 seems set to continue with that trend. The matters below highlight some of the changes on the horizon.
Read moreToo close for comfort – LPAs fail on the duty to co-operate
You would have thought that by now, after nearly 2 years since the Localism Act and National Planning Policy Framework have been in place, that local planning authorities would have got their act together.
Read moreAdjudication - "Pay first, argue (now up to twice as much) later"
The recent Court of Appeal decision in Aspect Contracts (Asbestos) Ltd v Higgins Construction Plc [2013] EWCA Civ 1541 clarifies that a limitation term is implied into every construction contract under the Construction Act 1996, where no express term exists.
Read moreWant to Control the Future?
A seller commonly wishes to restrict the buyer's use of land after the sale – sometimes forever and sometimes only for a limited period.
Read moreA Damp Squibb
The recent case of Squibb Group Ltd v (1) London Pleasure Gardens (2) London Borough of Newham [2013] EWHC 3275 (TCC) demonstrates that contractors cannot rely on funders to pay outstanding fees where an employer runs into financial difficulty.
Read moreIt shouldn't be a hard sell. Getting your head around the known knowns and the known unknowns
Although Don Rumsfeld wasn’t talking about the sale of property when he talked about knowns, he makes an important point about knowledge. Picture the scene.
Read morePledging to use Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR")
On November 12th, signatories of The International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR)'s new 21st Century Pledge will be announced.
Read moreIs sunlight a nuisance?
Reports that sunlight reflecting from the unusually shaped "Walkie Talkie" building at 20 Fenchurch Street in London has melted parts of a Jaguar motor-vehicle parked on Eastcheap Street raises an interesting question whether reflected sunlight or heat from a building is actionable in law.
Read moreProcurement Policy Note on EU Directives
The Cabinet Office has issued a Procurement Policy Note (“PPN”) which summarises the main outcomes of the new EU Directives relating to public procurement, utilities procurement and service concessions. The PPN also outlines the next steps in finalising and implementing the Directives.
Read moreHELP TO BUY: BOOM OR BUST?
The Help to Buy initiative forms part of the Government's Funding for Lending scheme.
Read moreSDLT group relief anti-avoidance – good news from HMRC
Last week saw some (much needed) good news on the topic of SDLT avoidance, that should clarify HMRC's approach to the common commercial practice of transferring a property intra-group, following the acquisition of a property-owning company (PropCo).
Read moreSDLT avoidance - HMRC victorious regardless of taxpayer 'motive'
HMRC has scored a resounding victory in the first case[1] to consider in any detail the wide-ranging SDLT anti-avoidance provision (section 75A of Finance Act 2003).
Read moreInsurers as lenders: what borrowers need to know
Insurers are the new show in town The make-up of providers of debt secured against UK real estate has changed dramatically.
Read moreWhen the levee breaks
Whilst the stalled talks between ABI and Government have recently re-started, in less than 8 weeks a substantial number of properties may suffer significant loss of capital value if their owners are no longer be able to obtain flood risk insurance.
Read moreGrowth and Infrastructure Act 2013
The Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 (the Act) was given Royal Assent on 25 April 2013.
Read moreOutsourcing Health & Safety – a step too far?
Michael Scott & Danielle Lodge question the wisdom of outsourcing health and safety responsibilities
Read moreAdjudicator's Fees
The Court of Appeal has confirmed that an Adjudicator is not entitled to any of his fees in circumstances where his decision is unenforceable.
Read moreProperty Rental Business Transfers and Leases – Reclaiming VAT and SDLT
Last November, following the decision in the case of Robinson Family Limited, HMRC announced that a transfer of a property rental business can qualify as a "transfer of a going concern" (TOGC) – and therefore not attract VAT – even if the transferor retains a reversionary interest in the property.
Read moreCourt of Appeal's opinion on good faith clauses
In our February blog we reported on Compass Group UK and Ireland Ltd (trading as Medirest) v Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust [2012] EWHC 781 (QB) and the implications of the decision on the duty to act in good faith.
Read moreCosts overruns in Target Costs contracts
Who is liable for costs overruns in a Target Cost contract, and to what extent? AMEC Group recently went to the TCC to appeal against an arbitration decision which found the Secretary of State for Defence ("the Authority") would only be liable for actual costs which were reasonably and properly incurred.
Read moreNPPF – 1 year on: smooth transition or wasted opportunity?
Given that over 50% of Britain's local councils are still to adopt Local Plans, is the window of opportunity for local residents to take control of development in their local area about to close?
Read moreNew Kids on the Block : alternative funders in the real estate lending market
Over the last couple of years, there has been a surge in real estate lending by non-bank lenders as traditional banks started withdrawing from the market.
Read moreWhat are the potential risks associated with BIM?
This is the second of three blogs about Building Information Models, or BIM. This blog will consider the potential risks associated with BIM, but don't worry we provide some practical advice on how these risks can be tackled in our final BIM blog.
Read moreGood Faith Clauses
There is no general doctrine of good faith in English law and it is not therefore implied into contracts.
Read moreRights to Light Reform: Law Commission Consultation
On 18 February 2013 the Law Commission announced that it was beginning a consultation process regarding possible changes to the law governing "rights to light".
Read moreJCT Insurance Options: what's the right fit for fit-out?
Where a tenant is fitting out premises within a multi-occupied building, the JCT's standard insurance options are not always appropriate and, left unaddressed, place unintended and severe risks on the tenant.
Read moreGovernment property, Kirstie and Phil style?
Ok, so Ms Allsopp and Mr Spencer haven’t quite been called in yet, but almost.
Read moreThe End of the British High Street?
2012 was a hard year for the retail sector but 2013 is shaping up to be an even tougher year for High Streets in the UK.
Read moreIs the Green Deal a great deal?
There is no denying the Green Deal has many advantages but consider the deal in relation to short term leases and it may not be as great as it initially seems.
Read moreNEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract "Guidance Notes": more important than you realise for interpreting the ECC
Certain terms of the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract ('ECC') are open to interpretation, and the recent case of E-Nik Ltd v Department for Communities & Local Government [2012] EWHC 3027 (Comm) has cast into doubt whether even something as routine as VAT is crystal-clear under the ECC.
Read moreDevelopment incentives – but at what cost?
In light of what is starting to appear to be a wholehearted failure to persuade local communities to meet requisite housing targets, Nick Boles last week proposed self-proclaimed "bungs" to local communities.
Read moreWill Planning Performance perform?
On 22 November 2012, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published a consultation entitled 'Planning performance and the planning guarantee' setting out, amongst other things, how the Growth and Infrastructure Bill's proposals to enable planning applications to be made directly to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) would operate.
Read moreLeaving customers without signal: the task of re-building the Telecoms Code
Now almost 30 years old, the Electronic Communications Code (the 'Code'), falls far short of representing the needs of a swiftly developing communications network.
Read moreH&M: Brave New World?
We have all been involved in lease negotiations where there are differences of opinion as to what is or is not institutionally acceptable.
Read moreEnd of the line for Village Greens?
Nothing can be more frustrating for a developer to see its scheme delayed or worse still derailed by an application for the registration of land as a town or village green ("TVG").
Read moreRights of Light
Rights of light are an easement and are commonly acquired simply by a neighbour having enjoyed the light over a neighbouring building owner’s land for a period of 20 years without interruption.
Read moreAll is not (necessarily) lost: Crypto crime recovery
With over 2 million people in the UK now holding and using cryptocurrency, and the Chancellor announcing that a government backed non-fungible token ("NFT") is to be issued by the Royal Mint this summer, the market for crypto-assets is expected to continue to grow in the coming months and years; so much so that legislation is planned to implement a new regulatory regime for the crypto market.
Read moreTechnology in Insurance
On 16 June 2022 RPC hosted an afternoon of talks and panel sessions on the theme of 'Technology in Insurance', the culmination of the firm's TechWeek which brings market experts and lawyers together to discuss risks and opportunities with new technologies within different business sectors.
Read moreA guide to buying and selling English residential property
With the advent of COVID-19, Brexit and global market volatility, the mature, fast-moving English real estate sector faces unprecedented challenges. However history has shown the English residential property market to be particularly resilient and many consider this a time of unique opportunity.
Read moreSports Ticker #110: Special Edition - 2024 Summer of Sport - a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world
In a fortnight which has seen Euro 2024 final heartbreak for England's men and a spectacular (but wet) opening ceremony at Paris 2024, we bring you a very special edition of the Sports Ticker: the 2024 Summer of Sport! Read on for a Ticker roundup of the biggest events this summer: Euro 2024 and the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Read moreSports Ticker 109: Wimbledon esports, Euro 2024 sustainability and renaming Old Trafford – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world
In a fortnight which saw Southgate step down as England manager after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, Alcaraz and Krejcikova win the Wimbledon's singles tournaments, and Tadej Pogačar lead the Tour de France, we bring you updates on a new Wimbledon esports tournament, Old Trafford naming rights and UEFA's sustainability goals.
Read moreSports Ticker #108: football governance, F1 in Asia and AI marketplaces
In a fortnight which saw Real Madrid lift the Champions League Cup once more, a new "Ultimate Championship" athletics event announced and Charles Leclerc win on home soil for the first time in the Monaco Grand Prix, we bring you updates on the now-halted Football Governance Bill, potential Formula 1 expansion into Southeast Asia and record-breaking interest in women's sports.
Read moreSports Ticker #107: football sustainability, AI team selection and new F1 tech – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world
In a fortnight which saw Manchester City bag its fourth consecutive Premier League victory, Brazil announced as the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup and Will Smith purchase his own electric powerboat team, we bring you updates on sustainability in football, AI in cricket, and bees in baseball.
Read moreSports Ticker #106: Liverpool's Adidas kit, a new athletics venture and the London Marathon – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world
In a fortnight which saw women's Rugby League launch its world-first player-run TikTok account, Ferrari's F1 partnership with HP, and Apple reportedly on the verge of a global broadcast deal for FIFA World Cup, we bring you updates on a new athletics joint venture, Wrexham AFC, and the disqualification of all three medallists in the Beijing half marathon.
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