Tughans Solicitors

45 Degrees of separation: When planning reports come unstuck

In R (Manby) v Hackney EWHC 1543 (Admin), the High Court quashed a householder permission for a rear extension because of the way the council dealt with its Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD.   The 45-degree rule The SPD said rear extensions should not exceed a line taken at 45 degrees from the centre... Read More

The new RESS 6 Renewable Energy Support Scheme: What it could signal for renewable energy policy in Northern Ireland

Last month, the Government of Ireland released its terms and conditions for the sixth competition under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 6). RESS refers to the Republic of Ireland’s competitive auction-based scheme for providing financial support to renewable electricity projects. Developers apply to participate in RESS and bid into an auction, offering a price... Read More

Update on pay transparency reforms in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland 

On 14 July 2026, the UK Government published a consultation document on proposed reforms to equal pay and pay transparency requirements for employers in Great Britain (GB). This proposal does not directly impact employers in Northern Ireland, where the position on pay transparency is more complex. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland has committed to fully... Read More

The Digital estate: Getting to grips with the new era of estate planning  

When considering our Wills and other estate planning arrangements, most of us would not think twice about making provision regarding our home, savings or investments. Yet an increasing number of individuals now own assets that exist entirely online, ranging from cryptocurrency holdings and online investment accounts to valuable digital content stored in the cloud. Whilst... Read More

Apparent bias in planning decisions: A cautionary tale for councillors

A recent High Court decision, R (On the Application Of Perrin) v North Devon District Council EWHC 535 (Admin), concerning a planning permission granted by North Devon District Council provides an important and timely reminder of how Councillors can fall foul of allegations of apparent bias and the risks of departing from officer advice.... Read More

Temporary cost of living payments: Key considerations for employers

Employers are increasingly aware of the ongoing cost of living pressures facing employees and the impact these can have on wellbeing, morale and retention. In periods of economic uncertainty, many organisations look for practical ways to provide additional support to their workforce, whether through enhanced benefits, one-off payments or temporary financial assistance. While such initiatives... Read More

Kinsella v Carter: Irish High Court clarifies the scope of psychiatric injury claims in medical negligence

The recent High Court decision in Kinsella v Carter may prove to be one of the most significant developments in Irish healthcare litigation in recent years. The Court held that a spouse who developed PTSD after witnessing the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic medication overdose negligently administered in hospital could recover damages for that psychiatric... Read More

Introduction of the Renewable Electricity Generation Bill in Northern Ireland

The long-awaited Renewable Electricity Generation Bill (the Bill) has recently been introduced to the Northern Ireland (NI) Assembly. The introduction of this Bill is an important milestone for developers and investors looking for a route to market for new NI renewable projects, particularly given the absence of a support mechanism for renewables in NI since... Read More

Spain, Zimbabwe and the Supreme Court on sovereign immunity and ICSID enforcement

The UK Supreme Court’s decision in Kingdom of Spain v Infrastructure Services Luxembourg S.à.r.l. and Republic of Zimbabwe v Border Timbers Ltd UKSC 9 is now the leading UK authority on the interaction between ICSID arbitration and sovereign immunity.   Background: The ICSID Framework ICSID is the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.... Read More

Tax and environmental liability: who pays when waste gets stuck

A recent Tribunal (Tax) case, Nuttall and another v HMRC UKFTT 674 (TC), raises some very practical issues about what can happen to waste, and to those storing it, when the party responsible becomes insolvent. As well as providing a helpful overview of landfill tax liability, the decision serves as a cautionary tale for... Read More