Littlejohns & Anor v Devon County Council & Anor [2016] EWCA Civ 446 (06 May 2016)

Littlejohns & Anor v Devon County Council & Anor [2016] EWCA Civ 446 (06 May 2016)

Section 1(2)(b) of the Commons Registration Act 1965 prohibits the exercise of any rights of common over registered common land unless registered, including rights created after the cut-off date; the Commons Act 2006 does not revive or permit registration of such rights; only rights created by express grant and registered under the 2006 Act are valid going forward.

Citation
[2016] EWCA Civ 446
Parties
Appellant: Martin Littlejohns; Appellant: Sarah Littlejohns; Respondent: Devon County Council; Interested Party: Duchy of Cornwall
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
06 May 2016
Procedural Posture
Judicial Review / Appeal From High Court
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Commons Registration, Rights of Common, Statutory Interpretation, Prescription, European Convention on Human Rights
Property Law Administrative Law Commons Registration Rights of Common Statutory Interpretation Prescription European Convention on Human Rights

Case Brief

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Parties

Martin Littlejohns

Appellant

Sarah Littlejohns

Appellant

Devon County Council

Respondent

Duchy of Cornwall

Interested Party

Procedural Posture

Judicial Review / Appeal From High Court

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether rights of common can be acquired by express grant or prescription after 2 January 1970 over land registered under the Commons Registration Act 1965
  2. 2 Interpretation of section 1(2)(b) of the Commons Registration Act 1965
  3. 3 Whether the Commons Act 2006 allows registration of such rights

Ratio Decidendi

Section 1(2)(b) of the Commons Registration Act 1965 prohibits the exercise of any rights of common over registered common land unless registered, including rights created after the cut-off date; the Commons Act 2006 does not revive or permit registration of such rights; only rights created by express grant and registered under the 2006 Act are valid going forward.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • No order quashing Devon County Council's decision
  • No mandatory order requiring reconsideration