The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) yesterday heard a test case concerning Britain’s law on adverse possession.
The government has appealed to the 17-member Grand Chamber following a previous ruling by the ECtHR in which a property company, JA Pye (Oxford), was awarded compensation for the loss of its land.
Title to the land, near Newbury, Berkshire, had been successfully claimed by a farmer following a 12-year period of uninterrupted grazing of sheep.
The government will argue against the court’s ruling that JA Pye’s right to enjoy its property had been violated by the law on adverse possession.
Should it fail, it could face substantial claims from landowners seeking compensation for the loss of land.
References: Financial Times 09/11/06 p4 (News Digest)
