A Matter of Taste: Can personal preferences permit you to refuse to approve a neighbour's building plans?
A High Court case over an ultra-modern new-build house in Holland Park shines a light on a tricky matter of taste. "The case does firmly confirm that aesthetic concerns have their place in the consideration," writes Frankie Tierney, but "it is clear that just because you regard the proposed building plans of your neighbour to be in the worst possible taste, that by itself will not entitle you to refuse to approve the plans where such refusal has to be reasonable."

Commercial and complex litigation for both businesses and individuals. This includes contract disputes, property ownership disputes, Commercial Landlord & Tenant disputes, dilapidations claims, intellectual property disputes, Professional negligence claims, shareholder disputes and “unfair prejudice” claims in the Companies Court, Property Chamber (Lands Tribunal) claims and Land Registry adjudications with particular emphasis on restrictive covenant issues, Court of Protection disputes, Inheritance disputes.
Surrey planners approve a new ‘Para 80’ country house clause project
Manser Medal-winning architecture practice Eldridge has secured approval for a contemporary country mansion in the Surrey Hills, under the newly-updated Paragraph 80 of the NPPF (formerly Para 79).
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Behind the Schemes: The grand revival of an historic Bloomsbury townhouse
How Quinn Architects returned a Grade II* listed building to its original grandeur after two centuries of alteration and poor repairs...
By PrimeResi
Behind The Schemes: The double-fronted suburban villa, reimagined
North London practice Cousins & Cousins talks us through the design of a brand new Arts and Crafts-inspired family home in Highgate
By PrimeResi
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First Look: £500mn ‘vertical village’ takes shape in Kensington
100 Kensington is due to reshape the West London skyline with the tallest resi tower ever delivered in the Royal Borough.
Strutts bolsters country house team with hires from Savills & Knight Frank
James Machell & James Robinson have joined the BNP Paribas-owned estate agency's National Country House Department.
By PrimeResi
Benchmark deal in Marylebone demonstrates art of ‘old-fashioned agency’
£9.95mn apartment attracted multiple bids and set a new 2025 price record - with zero public exposure.
‘I have never known such a challenging marketplace’: Inside 2025’s great country house slowdown
Mishcon de Reya's Idina Glyn speaks to some of Britain's top rural property agents to uncover what's really been happening in the prime country house market.
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Social Circuit: ‘Off-market’ networking series debuts in Knightsbridge
Invite-only soirées aim to reimagine offline networking for London’s prime property insiders.
Massive payout in ‘landmark’ Bankside Rights-of-Light ruling
'These are believed to be the highest negotiating damages ever awarded in a rights of light case,' say lawyers.
By PrimeResi
Talking Heads: How the business of luxury property has evolved over the last 25 years
PrimeResi’s panel of seasoned property leaders unpacks the major shifts reshaping the industry in the 21st century - from greater transparency & regulation to tackling discrimination & rethinking collaboration.
By PrimeResi
Altius picked to deliver ‘once in a generation’ West End tower scheme
The Huguenot House development team includes architects Foster & Partners and contractors Erith.
By PrimeResi
Landmark Shard residences still unlet amid ‘severe’ ultra-prime market contraction
Company filings cite market downturn & tax changes for delays in letting set of luxury apartments at the iconic London skyscraper.
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