In a seminal judgment, Mr. Justice Keith has ordered restitution of licence fees charged to sex shops by Westminster City Council.

A judicial review of Westminster’s sex licensing fees was brought by 7 owners of 13 sex shops in Soho and Covent Garden.

The essence of their claim was that while a duly authorised licensing committee had determined the annual fee for sex shops under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 for 2005-2006 at £29,102 per annum, an it had failed to determine a fee for any year thereafter, until January 2012 when it determined that the renewal fee should be £18,737.

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The Court of Appeal has given important guidance on the approach to costs when judicial review claims settle before final hearing. In an age assessment claim against the London Borough of Croydon the Claimant M unsuccessfully sought an order that the Borough should pay all his costs.

The Master of the Rolls gave guidance that will assist parties in settling claims at an earlier stage and laid out the rules that should apply when the Court is left to determine where costs will lie.

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Anthony Porten QC acted for a consortium of builders in a recent Village Green Inquiry which raises an important point of interest: issue estoppel.

Mrs Malcolm applied originally in 2006 under s.13 of the Commons Registration Act 1965 for land at Hucknall to be registered as a TVG. Following an eight day Inquiry the application was dismissed on various grounds – use had not continued up to the date of the application, being prevented by the erection of fences a few days earlier; use had not been as of right due to (a) deference and (b) prohibitory signs.

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In a decision of significance for all planning practitioners, the Supreme Court in Tesco Stores v Dundee City Council [2012] UKSC 13 rejected Tesco's challenge and determined that the interpretation of planning policy is a matter of law and not to be left to the discretion of local planning authorities. Guidance has also been provided on the approach to "suitability" in the context of the sequential test.

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This is an important planning case in the High Court concerning the scope of the doctrine of material change of use by intensification, and the proper interpretation of Part 8 of the General Permitted Development Order 1995.

Permission has been granted for Hertfordshire County Council to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

In a decision published on 26 March 2012, the Secretary of State granted permission to the Highway Authority to install four cattle grids in four strategic locations within Epping Forest. The decision, which followed a public inquiry under s. 82 of the Highways Act 1980, means that Essex County Council and Corporation of London can proceed with the installation of the grids as part of the Epping Forest Transport Strategy (the“EFTS”).

Secretary of State’s decision:  www.dft.gov.uk/publications/lao-20120326a/

Secretary of State's decision to reject Pinewood, Shepperton's "Project Pinewood", a proposal for 1600 dwellings in the Green Belt, providing permanent street-scape for filming and a Screen Crafts Academy.

Issues involved interpretation and application of Green Belt policy, landscape and visual impact, assessment of economic benefit and film industry need together with housing land supply and affordable housing need.

Claim for compensation following the compulsory acquisition of a disused public house. Residual method of valuation used.

Inquiry concerning residential development proposal in AONB covering issues of traffic impact, and impact on a listed building and setting. Tom appeared for the planning authority.