The City of London Corporation's Planning and TransportationCommittee today approved a recommendation allowing the City toconsider acquiring an interest in land under section 227 of theTown and Country Planning Act in order to engage section 237 powersso that developments can proceed where they could otherwise beprevented by injunctions prohibiting infringements of rights oflight.

The Committee went on to use these powers to allow the City ofLondon to acquire an interest in the development at 20 FenchurchStreet.

A City of London spokesperson commented;"The City of London has a long standing planning policy ofpromoting development in order to maintain the supply of - and tomatch the demand for - high quality office space in the SquareMile.

"The Heaney case has cast doubt upon the basis to which rightsof lights issues are to be resolved and represents a significantobstacle to future developments both in the city and indeedthroughout the country.

"The Planning and Transportation Committee"s decision to agreeto the use of powers under S237 ensures that developments deemed topromote economic development and other public benefits in the City- of which 20 Fenchurch Street is certainly one - can proceedwithout running the risk of injunctions being applied with regardsto rights of light."The decision is subject to the concurrence of thePolicyand Resources Committee which is due to meet onThursday 12 May and the Court of Common Council which is due tomeet on Thursday 9 June.