Francis Taylor Building

FTB is acknowledged by the leading legal directories as a leader in the field of town and village greens, common land, rural affairs and rights of way and highways.

Barristers regularly appear at public and statutory inquiries and in court and advise on matters relating to:

Registration and de-registration of Town and Village Greens and Commons
Rights of way including footpaths, byways, bridleways, cycle tracks and the England Coastal Path
Highways including DCOs
Use of open space
Land designations (AONB, National Parks)
Level crossings
Map Modification Orders
Traffic Regulation Orders
Stopping Up Orders
Rural planning matters

Regular clients include Government, public authorities, statutory consultees, campaign and amenity organisations, land owners and private individuals.

Over the years, members of Chambers have appeared in almost all the major cases in the courts relating to town and village greens, including four of the leading Supreme Court cases: Combined appeals in R (Lancashire County Council) v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and another, and R (NHS Property Services Ltd) v Surrey County Council and another (conjoined appeals), Lewis v Redcar, Barkas v North Yorkshire CC and Newhaven.

Richard Honey KC is an editor of the third edition of Gadsden & Cousins on Commons and Greens, the definitive text book on this subject. Annabel Graham Paul contributed the chapter on Wales. Research assistance was provided by Daisy Noble.

02

Dec' 22

Works on Common Land: High Court Gives Guidance on Section 38 Application

Sir Ross Cranston (sitting as a High Court Judge) has dismissed a claim challenging the lawfulness of the decision of an inspector to grant consent for works to create a new access road across a linear strip of common land adjacent to a road that forms part of Barking Tye Common in Suffolk.

25

May' 22

Successful Deregistration of Large Area of Village Green in Hertfordshire

In a decision letter given on 24 May 2022, an Inspector has allowed, following a public inquiry, an application made by Taylor Wimpey for the deregistration of 33,000 m2 of registered village green on the edge of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

"FTB is an excellent set with first-rate barristers. I always have confidence in their ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters."

Chambers and Partners, 2023

"FTB enjoys a strong reputation for rural planning and environmental law. Members are particularly recognised for their strength in town and village green matters, as well as development and rights of way disputes."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

"Barristers at the set are equipped to handle a variety of disputes arising in rural settings, including those concerning the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Highways Act 1980. Member of FTB regularly contribute to leading textbooks."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

"Francis Taylor Building handles a wide array of agricultural matters, with particular strength in public law-related cases. Areas of strength include common land, town and village green applications, rights of way, and easements."

Legal 500, 2022