A Guide for Installing Solar Panels - for developers, building owners and tenants

The current Energy Crisis has meant that energy price caps are expected to rise to 82% by October. The increased pressures of living costs in the United Kingdom has led to a push for solar panel adoption. A solar panel array is a cheaper and efficient form of energy production, with sustainable benefits for the environment and energy bills. For developers and building owners, it can be an attractive asset to add to your property. For tenants, the installation of solar panels can save you money through lower energy bills and a reliable source of energy production. When exploring solar options, you should be mindful to the obligations and agreements that must be in place to ensure that you are financially protected. In the following article, there will be consideration as to the regulatory requirements, the obligations, the benefits from the angle of the developer, the building owner, and the tenant.

Meet our Team

This month we find out more about Alice McKenna, Solicitor in the Public Sector Employment Team. 

Review of Hybrid and Distance Working by the Office of Tax Simplification

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) is conducting a review on the trends and tax implications of hybrid and distance working in the UK and across borders. The focus of the review is to look at changes in practice and any emerging trends away from the 'traditional' way of working.

From the outset of the pandemic, the UK has seen a huge shift towards hybrid and distant working as technology has enabled many employees in certain roles to work remotely instead of in an office. For some, this included employees working overseas.

Nutrient Neutrality - a changing landscape for the planning system?

There has been a growing consensus of late, coming from local planning authorities on the peculiarities surrounding Natural England, stating that development in a variety of catchment areas is unable to proceed if it increases its levels of nutrients. Rather, in order for a development to proceed, it must be nutrient neutral. Essentially, nutrient neutrality aims to offset the rising nutrient levels that cause rivers, estuaries, and wetlands to become polluted.

New Acas Guidance: Staff Suspensions

A suspension occurs when an employer tells an employee to stop carrying out work temporarily, and Acas has recently published new advice on how to approach this (https://www.acas.org.uk/suspension-during-an-investigation; https://www.acas.org.uk/acas-publishes-new-advice-on-staff-suspensions-at-work).