European court rules on Pye v UK

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has overturned a ruling that a property development company that lost building land worth £21m to farmer “squatters” had been deprived of its human rights. The decision means that the building company, JA Pye of Oxford, will not be entitled to compensation for its losses. Pye had hoped to build houses on the Berkshire land but the House of Lords ruled in 2002 that Caroline Graham, a widow, was entitled to squatter’s rights. Her late husband had grazed cattle on the land for more than 12 years. The court ruled that Britain had breached the company’s rights to peaceful enjoyment of its possessions. However, the Grand Chamber has ruled that there was no breach of the convention. 31/08/07 Times 24  Daily Telegraph B6