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We regularly write about different legal topics and welcome your comments on our posts. If you would like more information on our services, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Latest Posts

HIGH COURT QUASHES MANSTON AIRPORT DCO

Alice  Goodenough
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Harrison Grant acts for successful applicant, Jennifer Dawes, in quashing Department for Transport’s DCO for Manston Airport.   The High Court has sealed a consent order quashing the Secretary of State’s development consent order (DCO)...

Court of Appeal Quashes Neighbourhood Plan

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Harrison Grant acts for successful appellant, Lochailort Investments Ltd, in challenge to "Local Green Space" policy in the Norton St Philip Neighbourhood Plan. The Court of Appeal has today found that Mendip District Council's decision that...

Planning Court hears case via Skype

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On 24 March 2020, Harry Campbell of Harrison Grant participated in one of the first remote substantive judicial review hearings in the Planning Court in the case of R (Lochailort Investments Limited) v Mendip District Council. The case was due to be...

Information Tribunal Orders Cabinet Office to release secret report on fracking

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Harrison Grant acted for Greenpeace UK in their successful cross-appeal before the information tribunal. The tribunal concluded that the Environment Agency is a body external of government and so information disclosed to them by government departments...

Brexit Withdrawal Agreement: the Environment

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Under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, there is a transition period which shall run from the date on which the agreement enters into force (expected to be 30 March 2019) until 31 December 2020. During that period, EU law will continue to apply in the UK...

Supreme Court to hear appeal on statutory incompatability and registration of village greens

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The Supreme Court has granted permission to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal in the co-joined appeals of  R(Lancashire County Council) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and  Timothy Jones v R(NHS...

Friends of Finsbury Park - licensing review

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The Friends of Finsbury Park's application for a licence review of Wireless Festival was heard by Haringey Licensing Committee on the evenings of 15 and 16 October 2018.  Powerful testimony from the Friends and other residents.  ...

Victory for SAVE Britain's Heritage in Court of Appeal

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The Court of Appeal has found in favour of SAVE Britain's Heritage so that the Secretary of State is required to give reasons for refusing to call in for his/her own determination an application for planning permission. Officials forgot about a 2001...

Victory for Union in first stage of case for Deliveroo riders' rights

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The High Court has today given the International Workers of Great Britain (“IWGB”) permission to proceed with it's application for judicial review. This is an important case concerning the rights of workers within the “gig...

Unlawful approach to "community donations" from a developer

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Harrison Grant has acted in resisting an appeal concerning the unlawful approach to "community donations" from a developer. The Court of Appeal’s judgment today in R (Wright) v Forest of Dean District Council  [2017] EWCA Civ 2102...

Accountable Care Organisations Judicial Review

Kate Harrison
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We are instructed by Professor Stephen Hawking, Dr Colin Hutchinson, Professor Allyson Pollock, Professor Sue Richards and Dr Graham Winyard in a proposed judicial review of the Secretary of State for Health and NHS England's introduction of non-NHS...

Local Authority not liable for the actions of their predecessor

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A recent case has highlighted that many local authorities will not have liability for the actions of their predecessors under the contaminated land regime.  The recent Court of Appeal case of Powys v Price & Hardwick means many local authorities...

The meaning of Environment & the Environmental Information Regulations

Kate Harrison
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The Court of Appeal has confirmed the broad meaning of  “environmental” in the context of the Environmental Information Regulations. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy v Information Commissioner and another [2017]...

Secretary of State dismisses Swan Housing Group's appeals against Tower Hamlet

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Last week, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government dismissed Swan Housing Group’s appeals against Tower Hamlet’s decision to refuse planning permission to redevelop the former Stepneys Nightclub next to the George Tavern. The...

Susan Ring listed by The Planner

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Harrison Grant partner Susan Ring has been named on the list of Women of Influence in Planning 2017 compiled by  Th e Planner , which is the official monthly magazine of the Royal Town Planning Institute....

Japanese Knotweed

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Japanese Knotweed and other non-native invasive species are becoming an increasingly common problem. Japanese Knotweed can cause damage to property, blight sales and impact on valuations. It is expensive and difficult to get rid of and if not properly...

Village green victory

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Harrison Grant has successfully resisted Exeter City Council’s application to overturn the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs decision to register Eastern Fields as a town or village green on behalf of the local residents. ...

Harrison Grant instructed to challenge Heathrow decision

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Harrison Grant has been instructed by the London Boroughs of Hillingdon, Richmond and Wandsworth, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Greenpeace and Christine Taylor, a resident of the area affected by a proposed 3rd runway at Heathrow. ...

Heathrow decision bad for local residents and the environment

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Harrison Grant has been advising various local authorities and Greenpeace UK in relation to the planned third runway at Heathrow. Our client’s views are quite clear that today’s announcement is bad for local residents and the environment. Lord...

Success in appeal against ASA ban

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Harrison Grant has successfully represented a client in an appeal against an ASA ban  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/21/uk-advertising-watchdog-admits-it-was-wrong-to-ban-greenpeace-fracking-advert ...

Harrison Grant act in members' challenge to Labour Party leadership election rules victory

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In the High Court of Justice on August 8th Mr Justice Hickinbottom decided that, under the Labour Party rules, the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee does not have the power to disenfranchise 150,000 members, including the claimants. This...

Asbestos in soil guidance published

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CL:AIRE has published the Joint Industry Working Group Asbestos in Soil and Construction & Demolition (C&D) Materials guidance titled “Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012: Interpretation for Managing and Working with Asbestos in Soil and...

Noise impacts from music venues

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Harrison Grant’s Harry Campbell has recently acted in a case that provided useful clarification of how noise impacts from music venues should be treated. It was widely covered in the press including: ...

Recruitment update

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Harrison Grant is recruiting for a NQ – 3PQE solicitor. Further details can be found on our recruitment page ....

EAC Publishes Soil Report

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The Environmental Audit Committee has published their report on soils. Among other things it includes a section on contaminated land with some interesting observations and recommendations in relation to Government funding and local authority reporting  ...

Renewable energy and nuclear power

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Greenpeace and Ecotricity have today released an opinion from Jon Turner QC which advises that the proposed support for energy company, EDF,  by the French state, needed if EDF is to invest in a new power station at Hinkley Point C, is State aid and...

Harry Campbell joins Harrison Grant

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We are pleased to welcome Harry Campbell who joins us today. Harry is joining us from Richard Buxton solicitors. Harry has experience in planning and environmental law including judicial reviews....

Environment Agency release new report on Contaminated Land

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The Environment Agency has published a report entitled  Dealing with Contaminated Land in England . It gives an overview of a survey commission by DEFRA to which only 60% of local authorities responded. Given the number that did not respond (129) the...

Duchy of Cornwall wins its appeal but Duke of Cornwall is a public authority

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The Upper Tribunal has allowed the Duchy of Cornwall’s appeal against the decision that it is a public authority. The judge decided that the Duchy of Cornwall does not have any legal personality at all, unless it is being used as a reference to the...

Flood Re launches

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Flood Re’s aim is to promote the availability and affordability of flood insurance to those who own and live in properties in flood risk areas. It is the first scheme of its kind anywhere in the world. Customers will still buy their insurance from...

Bribery Act - failure to act

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A company has became the first company to be convicted under section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010. Sweett Group pleaded guilty to failing to prevent an act of bribery, and was fined £1.4 million. In addition, a confiscation order totalling...

Duchy of Cornwall fights to withhold environmental information

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Harrison Grant acts for Michael Bruton, who won a case determining that the Duchy of Cornwall is a public authority and must disclose environmental information to the public. The hearing of the Duchy’s appeal started today and will continue tomorrow. ...

Planning breaches and the Proceeds of Crime Act

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A developer who carried out a development without planning permission, as well as being ordered to demolish the building, has been ordered by a court to make a payment of £700,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act . Confiscation orders are rarely applied...

The Housing & Planning Bill

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The Government has published a new bill aimed at delivering more homes. Many of the provisions are subject to further Regulations and there is very little detail in the Bill. Some of the main provisions are intended to: • Require local authorities to...

Expert opinion from QC on air quality law and planning decisions

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On behalf of its client Clean Air in London (“CAL”), Harrison Grant has obtained leading counsel’s opinion on air quality law and planning. CAL campaigns for compliance with World Health Organisation guidelines for air quality throughout...

Harrison Grant advise on complaint to MSC

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Harrison Grant recently advised WWF on their complaint to the Marine Stewardship Council, further details can be found at  http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?253131/Victory-for-consumers-in-WWFs-battle-to-defend-MSC-ecolabel ...

Landlord's liability for fly tipped waste

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There has been an increase in landlords becoming liable for tenants’ waste on their premises. This has been due to a number of factors; the increase in landfill tax makes fly tipping and illegal waste disposal more financially attractive. In addition,...

Ground breaking climate change case

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In a ground breaking climate change case the Dutch Court has today ordered the State to take more action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands.  The case was brought by Urgenda (a contraction of “urgent agenda”) a...

Public bodies & consultants

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The Environmental Information Regulations places a duty to disclose information on public bodies, unless one of the exemptions in the Regulations applies. One of these exemptions covers to internal communications. The Information First-tier Tribunal has...

The new Government & the environment

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This update analyses the main environmental and energy implications of the Conservative party having won the general election The key pledges on the environment and energy are as follows: • Climate change. The government will continue to support the...

Judicial review of fisheries policy

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At a hearing on 27th April in the High Court Mrs. Justice Andrews granted Harrison Grant client Greenpeace permission to challenge the UK’s implementation of the EU’s new Common Fisheries Policy (“CFP”). In December 2013, following...

Job Opportunities

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Harrison Grant currently has two vacancies – one for an intern and another for a partner. Further details can be found at http://www.hglaw.co.uk/recruitment/...

Budget 2015 - Environmental Issues

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As usual the budget covered a range of issues including some environmental matters. The following is a round of some of the environmental aspects of the budget. Landfill / Waste The value of the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) for 2015-16 will be...

Water Companies are Public Authorities

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The Upper Tribunal has decided in Fish Legal v Information Commissioner and others [2015] UKUT 0052 that private water companies are public authorities for the purposes of the Environmental Information Regulations. It also decided that Tribunals (not the...

Aarhus Compliance Committee rules against UK Government

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The Aarhus Compliance Committee has issued its final decision in a case brought by Harrison Grant on behalf of Greenpeace. Greenpeace had complained about the costs it was ordered to pay when it was refused permission to challenge the designation of...

Judicial Review of Common Fisheries Policy Implementation

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Harrison Grant have been instructed by a client to bring a Judicial Review against DEFRA and their implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy.  The claim is that, following last year’s radical reform of the CFP, DEFRA should change the...

New Law Society Practice Notes on Contaminated Land & Flood

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The Law Society has issued a new practice note on contaminated land and updated their recent one on flood. The contaminated land practice note updates the ‘warning card’ issued to all solicitors in 2001 and sets out the Law Society’s view...

Harrison Grant partner interviewed on TV about Bhopal

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Harrison Grant partner Andrew Wiseman was today interviewed on television about Bhopal 30 years on. This environmental disaster took place on 2nd December 1984 and many of those impacted are still fighting for compensation and the contamination has...

Is the Duchy of Cornwall a Public Body?

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In November 2011 the Information Tribunal decided that the Duchy of Cornwall was a “public authority” under the Environmental Information Regulations.  This important and far reaching decision meant that members of the public, including our...

Harrison Grant in Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession

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Harrison Grant has been listed as a leading law firm in the new edition of the Chambers Guide. Kate Harrison is described as a “ first rate solicitor with a first-rate tactical legal mind ” and Andrew Wiseman as “ a well-respected...