In the first of our briefings on the Building Safety Bill, we focussed on the new, more stringent, building safety regime that will apply during the development and construction of certain residential buildings, known as “higher-risk buildings”. But how does the Bill envisage that the safety levels achieved through competent construction of a higher-risk building … Read more

Landlords of commercial premises have, quite understandably, been awaiting further details of the UK Government’s anticipated “binding arbitration” scheme for rent arrears which have accrued during the Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. Happily for landlords and developers, a recent decision in the High Court has suggested that the courts will not entertain tactics by tenants … Read more

This blog was first posted on Herbert Smith Freehills Public Law Notes. In a rare intervention on the question of costs, the Supreme Court has confirmed in CPRE Kent v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2021] UKSC 36 that those bringing claims for judicial review and statutory challenges can face exposure to multiple sets of … Read more

Following a consultation held earlier this year on the proposed Residential Property Developer Tax (RPDT) (see our blog post for more on this), on 20 September 2021 the government published further technical consultation on the draft legislation, which is accompanied by an explanatory note. This technical consultation closes on 15 October 2021, after which the … Read more

As we outlined in our previous blog on the Building Safety Bill this significant piece of legislation will effect a wholesale change to the planning and construction regime for residential developments, with a focus on increased accountability for all of those involved in the development and management of such projects. Whilst the Bill is not … Read more

In July, we wrote about the coming into force on 1 August 2021 of Planning Gateway One, the first of three new stop/go “Gateways” within the new building safety regime. At that point we awaited details of the proposed “Gateway Two Levy”, the second of the two means by which the government is seeking contributions … Read more

This blog was first published on HSF Public Law Notes on 23 July 2021. On 21 July, the Government introduced the Judicial Review and Courts Bill into Parliament. The Bill was foreshadowed in the Queen’s Speech on 11 May as part of the Government’s aim to ‘restore the balance of power between the executive, legislature and the courts’. … Read more