United Kingdom: Real Estate

Boundary disputes are among the most common cases encountered by agricultural litigation teams. A boundary is a line separating property. It doesn’t always physically exist, yet disagreements over its position can turn neighbours against each other, and the cost of resolving such disputes can quickly exceed the value of the land itself.

The new National Planning Policy Framework represents the most significant overhaul of England's planning system in a generation, introducing a pro-growth agenda that fundamentally reshapes how development proposals are assessed. From enhanced presumptions in favour of development to new rules for station-proximate sites and grey belt land, these changes create both opportunities and challenges for developers navigating the approval process.

The prospect of a third runway at Heathrow Airport has resurfaced, bringing uncertainty to communities across West London and the Thames Valley about homes, property values and future planning. This guide examines how the compensation framework operates for affected homeowners, identifies critical gaps in protection during the years between policy approval and construction, and explains why reform is needed to address the human and financial costs of prolonged infrastructure uncertainty.