Legal wrap: Succession planning, heat networks and the conveyancing revolution

Welcome to your weekly round-up of the pick of the content published on EG Legal over the past seven days. Anyone who has seen TV’s Succession (and, if you haven’t, you should) knows that, for family businesses, handing over to the next generation can be fraught with difficulties. With that in mind, the latest article in our three-part business management series concentrates on the importance of planning for the future. In addition, heat networks will have a huge role to play on the road to net zero, and our expert addresses the key questions. And will new property listing requirements mean the end of “buyer beware”? Find out below. Legal news Judge Elizabeth Cooke takes over as PLA president Property Litigation Association names successor to Liz Peace Tycoon Robert Tchenguiz wins appeal of Westminster’s new traffic measures Council traffic orders had blocked Tchenguiz’s vehicle access to his Kensington house after midday High Court rules ‘nothing controversial’ about Milton Keynes homeless shelter Owners of Romeo Dance Academy argue the plan shouldn’t have been decided by a planning officer Legal features The tricky business of succession planning Michelle Waligora explains how family property businesses can look to the future The catalyst of the conveyancing revolution Jeremy Raj and Hayley Bruce address how new requirements will fundamentally alter the selling and buying of residential property Why the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act has new challenges for arbitrators Application of the remedies will require a full spectrum of dispute resolution skills, write Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC and Thomas Rothwell Raising the temperature on heat networks George Matthew answers key questions on heat networks – a market poised to evolve significantly over the next 10 years Planning appeal targets: less haste, more speed? Hannah Quarterman runs the rule over the new appeal targets introduced for the Planning Inspectorate Back to Basics: Charting a course through retail’s choppy waters Peter Blakemore offers options for landlords and tenants seeking more flexibility in the use of retail space Q&A: Shared facilities under the right to manage Samuel Lear and Kimberley Ziya get to the heart of the matter Legal note: Reconsidering what’s in a signature Elizabeth Dwomoh revisits the valid execution of section 8 notices and confirmatory certificates Practice points Compulsory purchase: Calderbank offer effective but only to date it is withdrawn Pro Investments Ltd v London Borough of Hounslow Contractual notices: honest belief and rational decision-making process required Langage Energy Park Ltd v EP Langage Ltd Assessment of downstream greenhouse gas emissions in EIA R (on the application of Sarah Finch on behalf of the Weald Action Group) v Surrey County Council and others The standard of proof to set clock ticking on notice of intent Pinto v Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Possession of land: licence from the beneficial owner trumps paper title Brake and others v The Chedington Court Estate Ltd Case summaries Langage Energy Park Ltd v EP Langage Ltd Contract – Notice – Validity Tchenguiz v Westminster City Council Town and country planning – Traffic management order – Proportionality Pinto v Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Landlord and tenant – House in multiple occupation – Penalty Law report EE Ltd and another v Affinity Water Ltd Telecommunications – Electronic Communications Code – Consideration and compensation   For more legal articles and to search our extensive archive, visit EG Legal    To send feedback, e-mail jess.harrold@eg.co.uk or tweet @EGPropertyNews