Watch out for the village green! If you own, advise on, or are looking to acquire, land for development, then one of the legal issues you may need to consider is whether it is, or is at risk of being turned into, a town or village green. If the land is registered as such a green, a landowner will be committing a criminal offence if he develops the land, which will, in turn, become commercially worthless. The country's top village green expert, George Laurence QC, who has appeared in all of the recent House of Lords and Supreme Court cases in this area, gives a critical – and practical – update for viewers on this area. George concentrates on the Redcar case, in which he has just appeared in the Supreme Court, as well as the Betterment case in the Court of Appeal. The issues could therefore not be more timely and topical for applicable professionals.
About the contributors
George Laurence QC, read law as a Rhodes Scholar from the Cape Province, South Africa. He was called to the Bar in 1972 and became a QC in 1991. His practice consists primarily of real property disputes. His special interest and expertise is in the public and administrative aspects of property law. Such work includes countryside law (rights of way, village greens and commons), minor highways, judicial and statutory review and Public Inquiries. George was recently described in one of the UK's leading legal directories as 'one of the most influential barristers in the country when it comes to highways law, and town and village greens work'. George has appeared in the recent leading cases in this area in the House of Lords and the Supreme Court.
Ian Caplin, is a legal commentator, presenter, writer and television producer. He is dual qualified as a barrister and solicitor and has formerly practised as both in leading chambers and US and UK law firms in London. Ian has made some 300 appearances as a legal commentator on television and radio (more details on www.iancaplin.com). As the former leading producer of the Law Channel for 5 years, Ian covered the developing story of village green law on television in previous programmes with George Laurence and has written on village green issues in The Times and The Independent. Ian also teaches at the College of Law and has a law degree from Oxford University and Bar Scholarships from his Inn of Court.
Disclaimer: NBS TV programmes are the intellectual property of RIBA Enterprises and it shall be a breach of this right to copy, or in any way exploit commercially or show in public any of the programmes without the express permission of RIBA Enterprises.
