Who's Counting?

The Chancellor has issued a striking letter to ministers addressing consultation culture, legal risk, and judicial review in infrastructure planning. This entry examines the implications for DCO regimes, explores cost recovery concerns, reviews Scottish wind farm EIA requirements following the Raeshaw Farms judgment, and analyzes Irish planning reforms alongside a recent English housing refusal involving industrial pollution.

As organisations continue to navigate their responsibilities under the Building Safety Act, understanding competence, organisational capability and governance has never been more important. This video explores how expectations around competence have evolved since the introduction of the Building Safety Act and what organisations should be doing to meet their legal obligations, covering both individual and organisational competence requirements.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole form one of the South Coast's most active commercial property markets, supported by strong transport links, diverse business sectors, and ongoing regeneration projects. With industrial demand rising, town centres evolving, and institutional investors taking notice, the conurbation presents compelling opportunities for those seeking income-producing assets and development potential across Dorset's coastal economy.

The UK Government's £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme represents the largest investment in social and affordable housing in a generation, with 33 strategic partners confirmed to deliver over 70,000 new homes. As registered providers transition from securing funding to large-scale delivery, they face mounting pressures around project management, building safety compliance, quality assurance and long-term asset stewardship. How can strategic partners effectively manage these complex requirement

The Law Commission's second consultation paper examines whether the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954's security of tenure regime remains fit for purpose in today's commercial property market. With proposals ranging from streamlined contracting-out procedures to expanded redevelopment grounds that accommodate modern retrofit work, the consultation tests whether Part 2 of the Act has become too burdensome...

Boundary disputes are among the most common cases encountered by agricultural litigation teams. A boundary is a line separating property. It doesn’t always physically exist, yet disagreements over its position can turn neighbours against each other, and the cost of resolving such disputes can quickly exceed the value of the land itself.

The first reported decision on the 2018 reforms to Scotland's prescription rules has produced a surprising result for the construction industry and those dealing with latent defects claims.

The UK Government has announced the second phase of the Renters' Rights Act, introducing a mandatory Private Rented Sector Database that will roll out region-by-region starting in the West Midlands in December 2026. Landlords across England will face registration requirements, annual fees of £65 per property, and potential penalties of up to £40,000 for non-compliance, fundamentally changing how the private rental sector operates.

The decision by the Court of Appeal in Baqir Al-Chaalan & Anor v Abri Group Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 946 has provided clarity on whether a landlord has validly served a residential tenant with notice of legal proceedings seeking vacant possession. In this blog, Katy Corteel discusses the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

The UK government has unveiled its comprehensive 10-year infrastructure strategy, setting out ambitious plans to transform the nation's critical infrastructure landscape. This strategic framework addresses key challenges in power supply, construction, and public-private partnerships, with particular focus on emerging sectors like data centres and modernising existing PFI contracts.

Charities managing multiple restricted funds face administrative challenges and underutilized resources when fund purposes become outdated or inflexible. This analysis explores how trustees can use statutory powers under the Charities Act 2011 to rationalize funds, modernize purposes, and unlock charitable assets for more effective use while respecting donor intentions.

Charities continue to operate against a backdrop of financial pressure, increasing regulation and evolving risks. This edition explores practical issues including how philanthropy can support long-term resilience, the effective use of restricted funds, governance policies and managing personal data breaches.

Recent changes to inheritance tax rules have narrowed the charity exemption, potentially affecting charitable gifts in Wills made for "general charitable purposes." Donor-advised funds offer a flexible, tax-efficient alternative that allows individuals to maintain philanthropic intent while adapting to evolving circumstances and involving future generations in charitable giving.

As overlapping crises from climate events to geopolitical conflicts increasingly strain communities and institutions, the traditional model of crisis response is proving inadequate. This analysis examines how philanthropy can shift from reactive emergency funding to proactive investment in community resilience, exploring the tension between immediate relief and long-term preparedness in building a more robust civil society infrastructure.

With significant inheritance tax changes for pensions taking effect in April 2027, this comprehensive guide examines five essential areas of estate planning that families should review this autumn. From pension arrangements and regular gifting strategies to education funding, lasting powers of attorney, and digital asset management, discover practical steps to ensure your financial affairs remain aligned with your objectives and compliant with evolving tax legislation.

One of the most talked about changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025 is the new statutory right of access for trade unions, expected to take effect in October 2026. But despite the headlines, it’s fair to say that there is still plenty of confusion.

A new transparency regime will require certain land development agreements to be registered with HM Land Registry from April 2027, fundamentally changing how landowners, estates and charities structure private development arrangements. The regulations target contractual control rights including options, conditional sales and promotion agreements, with strict reporting deadlines and potential criminal penalties for non-compliance.

Explore how wealth extends beyond financial metrics to encompass values, culture, possessions, and philanthropy. This collection examines the broader dimensions of legacy planning, from values-led investing and cultural perspectives on succession to the emotional significance of heirlooms and passion assets, offering insights into creating meaningful and lasting legacies.

High net worth individuals are increasingly investing in art, watches, wine, classic cars and other collectibles as passion assets. These assets combine personal enjoyment with financial value, requiring careful legal and practical consideration across acquisition, lending, financing and succession planning to protect both their emotional significance and long-term worth.

Resolution Together offers separating couples in England and Wales a constructive alternative to traditional divorce litigation by allowing them to jointly instruct one specially trained family lawyer. This one-lawyer model provides shared legal advice on finances, children and divorce arrangements, helping suitable couples resolve their separation with clarity and dignity while minimising conflict and legal costs.