Coach park on public highway removed from rating list (Milton Keynes Council v Alexander (Valuation Officer))

Table of contents

• What are the practical implications of this case?
• What was the background?
• What did the court decide?

Article summary

Property analysis: In Milton Keynes Council v Mrs Janet Alexander (Valuation Officer), a valuation officer entered a coach park, which was located on the public highway, into the rating list. The local authority who ran the coach park appealed against this, arguing that the coach park was not capable of being a ‘hereditament’ as it was on highway land. It was unsuccessful in the Valuation Tribunal for England (VTE), but this ruling has now been reversed by the Upper Tribunal (UT). It followed an earlier VTE decision on this dated 23 December 2014 in relation to a car park in Wareham in Dorset. Cain Ormondroyd, barrister at Francis Taylor Building, comments on what lessons can be learned from this case and considers the implications for property lawyers.