The list of large retail presences on the High Street which have gone under since the demise of Woolworths in 2008 makes for very depressing reading.

The blog will focus in particular on the Public Bodies Bill and will follow the Bill through to its enactment and implementation whilst commenting on related legal and policy developments over the coming months.

Elaine Dobson, partner at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is warning non matrimonial co-habitees that there is currently no ‘common law' to settle disputes when relationships break down and assets must be split - and to put in place an agreement at the point of purchase to protect themselves in such an event.

Nick Maltby, partner at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that plans by the Government to fundamentally assess a new delivery model for PPP which draws on private sector innovation but at a lower cost to the taxpayer lacks substance and will lead to no more than a tweaking of the current PPP model.

Hannah Clews, solicitor at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that in light of the ruling in Quigley v Masterson, where severance of a joint tenancy was contested, cohabiting couples must be more aware of the pitfalls of a joint tenancy when buying property together.

John Qualtrough, partner at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that contrary to the Government's stated intention to simplify the planning system the existing draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) creates uncertainties which are likely to lead to a greater number of planning appeals and court challenges as applicants, local planning authorities and their advisers grapple with its provisions.

Elaine Dobson, property partner at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP welcomes the Governments plans to make squatting a criminal offence.

Senior Partner and leading property lawyer John Stephenson of Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that the so called ‘mansion tax' will never come to fruition and as it stands at present, is a half baked idea.

Proper judicial consideration in the case of Westbrook Dolphin Square Limited -v- Friends Provident will be welcomed believes John Stephenson, senior partner at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, when it is finally heard after a decision by the Court of Appeal to clear the path for the proceedings to go ahead.

Against the backdrop of an accelerated academy programme and calls from many, including former schools minister Lord Adonis, for independent schools to examine their consciences and step up to the plate.

Are shadow directors an issue for schools?

In Seawell Ltd v Ceva Freight (UK) Ltd, the Scottish EAT again considered the meaning of 'an organised grouping of employees' in the context of service provision changes under TUPE, and followed the approach set out in Argyll Coastal Services Ltd v Stirling (above).

Angus Walker, partner and planning lawyer at law firm Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that the abolition of regional strategies as part of the government's proposed Localism Bill would not be an automatic sounding of the death knell for house builders.

Angus Walker, partner and planning lawyer at law firm Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that the abolition of regional strategies as part of the government's proposed Localism Bill would not be an automatic sounding of the death knell for house builders.

Ellen James, a real estate lawyer at Bircham Dyson Bell believes that the latest recommendations to simplify the CRC have simply added to the growing number of consultations and red tape the Government has already gone through, and has yet to result in final form legislation, making a mockery of its ‘environmentally friendly' credentials.

Tom Henderson, Senior Associate in the Government & Infrastructure department of Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that recent Government moves to explore road privatisation might be a first step towards the introduction of more widespread road charging.

The first UK judgment on the remedy of ineffectiveness between Alstom and Eurostar has shown up flaws in the process for deciding the fate of public procurement contracts believes Nick Maltby, partner, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP.

Planning lawyer Angus Walker is warning that government plans for a new centralised unit to take over the planning casework previously dealt with by eight regional government planning offices will only succeed if there is a stronger ‘duty to cooperate' between councils.

Nick Evans, a partner in the Government & Infrastructure department at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that the self proclaimed ‘greenest government ever' needs to get a move on in setting up a green investment bank to raise money from the private sector for new green power sources.

Nick Maltby, partner at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that the Government's proposals for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) set out in this week's Local Government Finance Bill, while a step in the right direction, lack concrete detail and may not do enough to provide local authorities with a strong financing mechanism for local growth.