header-logo header-logo

The path to enlightenment?

01 March 2013 / Colin Oakley
Issue: 7550 / Categories: Opinion , Property
printer mail-detail

Colin Oakley outlines the thorny issues that can arise from rights to light & the Law Commission’s attempts to address them

There has been a glut of writing on rights to light since the High Court’s decision in HKRUK II (CHC) Ltd v Heaney [2010] EWHC 2245 (Ch), and the effect that it has had on the development industry and those who advise it.

This article is not primarily about Heaney, although it is possible that it would not have been written had that case never been litigated—or indeed had it progressed to an appeal. Instead, this article is about the Law Commission’s recent consultation paper on rights to light.

The Law Commission’s project on rights to light grew organically from its work on the general law of easements, covenants and profits à prendre. That project culminated in a 2011 report containing our recommendations for reform and a draft bill to implement them, to which we await the government’s response. During the course of our earlier project it became clear—even before Heaney—that

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll