FUNCTIONAL SEPARATION

March 27th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Planning and Environmental

In R ( BARBICAN QUARTER ORGANISATION LTD ) V CITY OF LONDON ( 2026 ) EWHC 687 ( Admin ) Fordham J holds that breach of the Regulation 64 of the Town & Country Planning ( Environmental Impact Assessment ) Regulations duty for functional separation did NOT have an automatic vitiating consequence for a decision in relation toa development proposal that is landowner, developer and decision-maker, where the breach of statutory duty demonstrably could have had no bearing on the decision. The  planning process would have been the same. No action would have been different.

 

PROCUREMENT OF CONTRACTS

March 27th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Decision making and Contracts

A Cabinet Office Command Paper, published on 26 March 2026, sets out the Government’s response to the consultation “ Public Procurement : Growing British industry, jobs, and skills “.

 

CONTAMINATION

March 27th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and Leisure

 

The British Standards Institution has, on 25 March 2026, published an updated CODE OF PRACTICE for the INVESTIGATION OF LAND POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY CONTAMINATION>

 

WASTE COLLECTION

March 27th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and Leisure

 

Pursuant to non-statutory DEFRA GUIDANCE, WASTE COLLECTION AUTHORITIES in England must, from 31 March 2026, provide WEEKLY FOOD WASTE COLLECTIONS from all households.

 

ABSENT VOTING

March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Elections and Bylaws

WELSH REGULATIONS , S>I>2026/91, make provision in relation to ABSENT VOTING and other matters, including limiting to a maximum of  3 years the period for which a person can apply to VOTE BY POST for a Senedd Election.

 

COMMUNITIES ORDERS

March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in General

Orders have been made in relation to the Counties of Ceredigion and Swansea : Sis 2026/94 & 95.

 

ROAD NETWORK

March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and Leisure

A DoT paper sets out 5 YEAR INVESTMENT STRATEGY for the management of the STRATEGIC ROAD NETWORK from April 2026 to March 2031.

 

RISKS TO DEMOCRACY

March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Elections and Bylaws

The RYCROFT REVIEW into countering FOREIGN FINANCIAL INFLUENCE AND INTERFERENCE in UK politics, published on 25 March 2026, considers the risks posed to democracy in the UK, and makes 17 Recommendations to mitigate those risks.

 

 

 

FIRE SAFETY

March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Housing

The HEALTH & SAFETY EXECUTIVE has on 25 March 2026 published a CONSULTATION document, seeking views pn proposed changes to STATUTORY FIRE SAFETY GUIDANCE, (1) updating external wall guidance, and (2) recommending new provision of evacuation lifts.

 

COMPLAINTS

March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Social Care

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has on 25 March 2026 published BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE to help ADULT SOCIAL CARE PROVIDERS deliver fair, transparent and accountable complaints handling, particularly for SELF-FUNDING CARE USERS>