Battle lines drawn on rights-of-light reforms

摘要

Two of mayor of London Boris Johnson's most senior advisers have praised the Law Commission's proposed overhaul of rights-of-light legislation, calling the law "an old piece of bureaucracy" that is stifling economic growth. The proposals, published on Monday, suggested abolishing "prescriptive rights of light" that automatically give a property owner a right to light once it has been in place for 20 years. Developers have long criticised the legislation because it enables owners of neighbouring developments to demand large cash settlements, rather than using the planning system to oppose development.