First annual review of the airport injunctions

On 24 June 2025, in the first of its kind, Bourne J conducted the first annual review for 10 out of the 13 airports the airport injunctions obtained last year. In a trail-blazing first, these airports co-ordinated their efforts to bring all the reviews forward for hearing on a single occasion, with a huge saving: of costs for the clients and of precious court time.

The headline points are:

• The injunctions continue with another joint review to be held next year
• Nicklin J in MBR Acres not followed re: re-naming defendants
• Nicklin J in MBR Acres not followed re: imposing a blanket requirement on claimants to seek court’s permission before applying to commit: this suggestion by Nicklin J was not argued and is per incuriam the relevant authorities

Where the Court concludes that there has been no material change in circumstances since an order was made, it is preferable for the Court to adopt a ‘minimalist’ approach, rather than trying to retro-first 1st/ 2nd generation orders with 3rd / 4th generation refinements.

Timothy Morshead KC and Evie Barden were instructed on behalf of the 10 airports by Stuart Wortley from Eversheds Sutherland.

As with its other areas of expertise, Landmark barristers continue to operate at the forefront of developments in this field, with multiple injunctions obtained to protect oil infrastructure, power generation infrastructure, transport infrastructure, education facilities, industrial premises, construction sites - not only from protesters but also from urban explorers and other threats - and also with market-leading experience in urgent relief and, if the need arises, committal applications and appeals.

We are hosting a series of talks and seminars on ‘Protest restrictions’. If you would like to find out more, please click here to register your interest: marketing@landmarkchambers.co.uk