“In conclusion on the primary argument, I find that the transfer was of the building which, for the main part of the building, included the airspace to the heavens, but in relation to the area occupied by the rear extension, was of the ground floor level only. It did not include the airspace above ground floor level.”
“In my judgment, the ordinary and natural meaning of "ground floor level" when defining property in horizontal slices in space is a fixed area extending from the ground to the point at which the ground floor meets what would notionally be the first floor. In other words, it is a fixed three-dimensional block of space with straight sides. Whilst I am not able based on the evidence before me to identify the precise height at which the "ground floor level" ends in the present case in metres and centimetres, it seems to me that it must extend at least to the height of the roof of the rear extension at its highest point, which no one suggested had changed since 1998.”
“In summary, I find: a. The transfer to the defendants, in so far as it related to the area occupied by the rear extension, was of the “ground floor level” only. The claimants own the airspace above “ground floor level”. b. The “ground floor level” constitutes the area up to the level of the roof of the rear extension at its highest point in 1998 and today which I take to be the level of the roof as it emerges from the building on the left-hand side when looking at the building from the rear. c. On that basis, I am not satisfied that the compression units are trespassing on the claimant's land or that they are doing so to more than a de minimis extent that would not justify relief and the result is that the claim must fail.”
“(a) the starting point is that injunctive relief should be granted for trespass and the burden would be on the defendants to show a reason why an injunction should not be granted. (b) where defendants provide a reason, the court should adopt a broad, evaluative approach to the question of whether damages in lieu would be more appropriate than injunctive relief, without having any predisposition one way or the other and that is a question on which previous authority is generally not a useful guide. Though it is not a balance of convenience test, the court will inevitably be engaged in weighing the harm that the injunction would cause to the defendants against the harm that the trespass causes to the claimants and the sufficiency or otherwise of damages as an alternative remedy to injunctive relief.”
“Drawing the threads together, I would summarise the position as follows: a) The starting point is that a judge is not entitled to decide a case on a basis that has neither been pleaded nor canvassed before him. His function is limited to deciding the issues put before him. b) Where, as in Al-Medenni and Satyam , a "theory" advanced by the judge is outside the scope of the pleaded issues (in the sense of the facts necessary to establish a claim or defence: Shagang Shipping at [98]), that will generally be a clear indication that reliance on that theory is impermissible. c) However, the key point is the interests of justice and, in particular, the question of prejudice to the losing party. d) This may mean that, even if an uncanvassed "theory" is not outside the scope of the pleaded issues, it would be unfair in all the circumstances of the case for the judge to rely on it. Conversely, in some cases it might not be unfair for the judge to depart from the scope of the pleaded issues, although generally only if this was fully addressed at trial.”
“34. I wish to state that most of our products that we sell require 24 hour refrigeration which requires compressors to be placed outside the shop. These food products are worth£6000 at any point in time and without such refrigeration, we run a risk of spoiling those food and beverage products. I refer to the photographs of the food refrigeration which are marked in Exhibit H. We have no other space except to put the refrigeration compressor units on the airspace which belongs to us. 35. I wish to state that this property and the shop therein is the only source of livelihood for me and my wife. We have been continuously running this shop since 1998.”
“I would emphasise at once that the power to suspend a section 106(5) injunction should be exercised sparingly. Otherwise, the planning purpose achieved by a section 106 planning obligation will be frustrated. But, as I have said, it does not follow from the fact that the existence of an impending planning appeal is not a good reason for refusing an injunction that its existence may not justify suspending the injunction pending the appeal. The grant of an injunction to enforce a planning obligation reflects the courts view that a party should normally be held to its bargain. But there may be circumstances in which it is fair, just and reasonable to suspend the injunction.”
“(14) The courts have consistently affirmed the importance of injunctions as a remedy for nuisance caused by the pollution of watercourses: see, in particular, Pride of Derby. … (15) At the same time, the courts have taken account of the public interest in preserving the effective removal of sewage from commercial and domestic properties, and the difficulties which may be faced by the authorities responsible for sewerage services if they cannot readily remove the nuisance. They have generally done so by granting injunctions whose effect was suspended so as to allow the authorities a reasonable time to alter the sewerage network to prevent further pollution …”
“(1) Damages assessed by reference to the value of the use wrongfully made of property (sometimes termed “user damages”) are readily awarded at common law for the invasion of rights to tangible moveable or immoveable property (by detinue, conversion or trespass). The rationale of such awards is that the person who makes wrongful use of property, where its use is commercially valuable, prevents the owner from exercising a valuable right to control its use, and should therefore compensate him for the loss of the value of the exercise of that right. He takes something for nothing, for which the owner was entitled to require payment. … (3) Damages can be awarded under Lord Cairns’ Act in substitution for specific performance or an injunction, where the court had jurisdiction to entertain an application for such relief at the time when the proceedings were commenced. Such damages are a monetary substitute for what is lost by the withholding of such relief. (4) One possible method of quantifying damages under this head is on the basis of the economic value of the right which the court has declined to enforce, and which it has consequently rendered worthless. Such a valuation can be arrived at by reference to the amount which the claimant might reasonably have demanded as a quid pro quo for the relaxation of the obligation in question. The rationale is that, since the withholding of specific relief has the same practical effect as requiring the claimant to permit the infringement of his rights, his loss can be measured by reference to the economic value of such permission. (5) That is not, however, the only approach to assessing damages under Lord Cairns’ Act. It is for the court to judge what method of quantification, in the circumstances of the case before it, will give a fair equivalent for what is lost by the refusal of the injunction. …”