Continuum Specialty

Judicial Review Dismissed in Wimbledon Park Expansion: Key Legal and Planning Implications

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On 21 July 2025, the High Court dismissed a high-profile judicial review challenge brought by Save Wimbledon Park Ltd against the Mayor of London. The case centred on the Mayor’s decision to grant planning permission for the expansion of the All England Lawn Tennis Ground (AELTG) across 39.7 hectares of Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), including the Wimbledon Park Golf Course.
Presided over by Mr Justice Saini, the judgment offers important insights into the interaction between planning decisions, legal constraints such as restrictive covenants, and the treatment of heritage and recreational land under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). For law firms advising developers, local authorities, or community groups, the case provides a timely and instructive precedent.

Navigating Gateways 2 and 3: What this means for Rights of Light Insurance

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The full implementation of the Building Safety Act 2022 represents a profound shift in the regulatory framework for higher-risk residential buildings (HRBs). Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, this legislation introduces new compliance requirements, with Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 now fully operational as of October 2023. For developers, funders, and insurers, the implications are significant, particularly when it comes to rights of light exposure and the structuring of indemnity insurance.

UK Data Centre Expansion: Judicial Review Risks and the Renewables Imperative

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The UK is poised for a substantial uplift in its data centre infrastructure, with nearly 100 new developments expected over the next five years – an increase of almost 20 per cent over existing facilities. This surge is driven by escalating demand for artificial intelligence processing power and fuelled by significant investments from major firms, including a £10 billion AI-focused centre in Blyth backed by Blackstone, and hundreds of millions of pounds from tech giants such as Google and Microsoft.

Permit Challenge Insurance: Unlocking Legal Certainty for Renewable Energy Projects

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The Scottish Government’s recent approval of the Berwick Bank offshore wind farm marks a significant moment for the UK’s renewable energy sector. Located in the North Sea, this SSE Renewables-led project is set to become one of the largest offshore wind farms globally, with the capacity to generate electricity for every home in Scotland twice over each year. The scheme represents the scale of ambition required to achieve the UK’s net zero targets.

Bankside Yards: Rights of Light Damages and Legal Risk Strategy

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The High Court’s judgment in Cooper v Ludgate House Ltd (commonly referred to as the “Bankside” case) is important reading for legal professionals advising on rights of light matters as well as surveyors and brokers in the market. It engages with a range of pivotal legal issues, including the circumstances in which injunctive relief may be granted, the interaction with Section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, and the methodology for assessing both light loss and compensatory damages.

For those practising in real estate and planning law, the decision represents more than a development in nuisance jurisprudence. It provides critical guidance on the approach courts are likely to take when assessing rights of light disputes in the context of large-scale urban regeneration projects