Local government

The Law Society has published its response to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ (DLUHC) consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and preparing National Development Management Policies. 

n the Spring Budget 2023, on 15 March 2023, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, announced a ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee,’ additional increases in defence spending, and a suite of local devolution deals providing funding for areas committed to a mayor or directly elected leader. The Chancellor also announced the development of a new Government Efficiency Framework and further funding for devolved administrations through the Barnett formula.

Doncaster Airport was scheduled to close due to lack of financial viability. The local authority launched a legal challenge, but to no avail.

Nicholas Dobson reports on the closure of Doncaster Airport & an unsuccessful application for judicial review

Victor Smith charts the fall of the decision in Woolworths… and its unexpected rise again in a recent case

The Law Commission has announced it will review legislation governing compulsory purchase, to ensure the law is suitable for present day infrastructure needs.

Victor Smith ponders a recent case suggesting that the troublesome 2002 decision in Woolworths may still be unduly influential, despite the Court of Appeal having declared it wrongly decided

"This book offers an abundance of knowledge and experience and provides a comprehensive breakdown of the respective legal frameworks"

A former looked-after child can bring a human rights claim against council authorities for failing to remove him from the care of his mother soon enough, the Court of Appeal has agreed.

Provision of s 20 accommodation under the Children Act 1989 does not automatically give a local authority a general duty of care, the High Court has confirmed