Recent Posts

Government consults on new sick pay scheme that could benefit two million low paid workers
The government has launched a public consultation on a range of measures to reduce ill health-related job losses. Proposals include:...
16/07/19
Brexit and Northern Ireland - new statistics on the consequences of a "no deal"
On 10th July 2019, the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy published a report entitled "Northern Ireland trade and investment...
16/07/19
A Plague On Both Your Houses: Research Shows that Public Trust in the Planning System is 'almost non-existent'
Last week, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland published a report which is a damning indictment on us all. Their research demonstrated that...
16/07/19
Brexit and an issue of Parliamentary sovereignty - can the Courts block a prorogation of Parliament?
In pursuit of a Brexit at 11pm UK time on 31st October 2019 ("exit day") come what may (or "do or die" as he is reported to have said),...
15/07/19
Solar Panels: The materiality of climate change can cast a long shadow over development proposals
In a typical application of Murphy's Law, my recent holiday coincided with a very busy two weeks in the world of planning. In particular,...
12/07/19
Brexit and getting closer to Switzerland
As Brexit "exit day" appears to get closer (currently, 11pm UK time on 31st October 2019), the UK is ramping up its efforts to conclude...
11/07/19
Planning for the worst
I was sorry to hear the recent news of the liquidation of the sandwich maker, Good Food Chain (GFC), following an outbreak of listeria...
10/07/19
Brexit and Japan
In an interview with the BBC in Tokyo on 27th June 2019, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono warned against the perils of a "no deal"...
09/07/19
Three reasons for including 'covert recordings' in your list of behaviours likely to amount to gross misconduct
Imagine the scene. You've dismissed someone and they bring an unfair dismissal claim. During that process you find out they've secretly...
09/07/19
Thrill-seekers vs screenwriters
Since Doctor Who returned to our screens in 2005, Cardiff Bay has become much more of a bustling tourist destination. However plans by...
08/07/19
Brexit - "The government and The National Archives prepare for EU Exit"
On 3rd July 2019 , the UK Department for Exiting the European Union (DEXEU) published a Written Ministerial Statement by Minister James...
08/07/19
Brexit and improving the scrutiny of international agreements
The Brexit debates in the UK have brought a new assertiveness to both Houses of Parliament in the way that they pro-actively engage in...
08/07/19/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2019-07-08-08-03-40-072-5d22f8dc8cb623056c7093a8.jpg)
Modern slavery: Government signals it will increase sanctions for non compliant businesses
The Government has published its final report following on from the Independent Review into the Modern Slavery Act 2015. In short...
08/07/19
"Brexit" and the new EU Prospectus Regulation
The new EU Prospectus Regulation ( No 2017/1129) is due to come fully into force throughout the European Union ( including the UK) on...
03/07/19
A story of fives…
Last week, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Communities released the Statistics for Planning Applications in England:...
03/07/19
Good news for employers: Supreme Court applies 'blue pencil' to rescue an otherwise unenforceable restrictive covenant
Many organisations incorporate restrictive covenants in their employees' terms and conditions of employment to prevent them from taking...
03/07/19
Talking to the plants...
In the past few weeks we've seen plenty in politics commenting on planning and how we should solve the housing crisis. Labour have...
01/07/19
10 top tips for avoiding employment tribunal claims
Employment laws generate a lot comment and it is unsurprising that businesses are often confused about what they can and cannot do with...
01/07/19
Brexit and continuing focus on the Irish question
On 26th June 2019, the UK Government announced the first meeting (to be held that day) of the Business and Trade Union Alternative...
28/06/19
English Law on the World Stage: Why London is still the forum of choice for international litigants
Despite the current political uncertainty, the English Courts continue to see high levels of international and cross-border litigation,...
26/06/19
Northern Ireland: Court of Appeal rule that holiday pay claims can go back to 1998
A decision of the NI Court of Appeal in Chief Constable of the Police Service of NI and others v Agnew will cause those employers who...
25/06/19
Brexit and progressing alternative arrangements to the Irish / Northern Irish backstop
On 20th June 2019, the UK Government announced the first meeting to take place that day of the newly established Technical Alternative...
24/06/19
Businesses urged to sign up to living hours accreditation scheme to provide job security to casual staff
The Living Wage Foundation has recently launched a new scheme - Living Hours to help zero hours and casual workers obtain some job...
24/06/19
Brexit and the marking of positions
In these groundhog days as we await the election of a new leader of the UK Conservative and Unionist Party , time is being spent by the...
20/06/19
Brexit and Citizens' Rights
As the "Brexit" train rolls on, stopping and starting along the way, the UK Government has been negotiating with individual EU member...
19/06/19
A Local Plan for Local People: What happens when Residents take over Local Councils?
To say that politics is strange and unpredictable at the moment is bordering on cliché. Brexit, the Tory leadership election, and a...
19/06/19
Brexit and the right to prorogue Parliament
There is some public debate currently between the candidates for the Conservative Party leadership and UK Prime Minister as to whether...
18/06/19
Brexit and getting a UK EORI number
In the current UK political climate, there is much more focus on the implications of a "no-deal" Brexit than there has been for a while....
17/06/19
Developer Uses Prescriptive Rights to Develop Land
The case of Stanning v Baldwin reported last week is a useful example of how prescriptive rights can be used to facilitate development of...
17/06/19
Brexit and the European Commission's update on its own preparations for a possible "no-deal" Brexit
On 12 June 2019 the European Commission published its fifth Brexit Preparedness Communication giving its own assessment of the measures...
14/06/19