[2024] UKUT 00429 (LC)

Case No: LC-2024-147

IN THE MATTER OF A NOTICE OF APPEAL

18 December 2024

TRIBUNALS, COURTS AND ENFORCEMENT ACT 2007

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CODE – Jurisdiction – Paragraph 33(1) of the Code – Meaning of “an operator … who is a party to a code agreement” – whether assignee of the benefit of a licence which is a subsisting code agreement is such a party – whether assignee must first have covenanted with the site provider to perform the licence obligations

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CODE – Paragraph 33(1) of the Code – Meaning of “an operator … who is a party to a code agreement” – purported assignment of lease of site – whether assignee discharged burden of proving title to lease

BETWEEN:

AP WIRELESS II (UK) LIMITED

Appellant

-and-

ON TOWER UK LIMITED

Respondent

Lubbards Lodge (322), land lying to the west of Burlington Gardens,

Hullbridge, Hockley, SS5 6BD

Sandbach (348), Meadowley and Fields Farm,

150A and 150B Congleton Road, Sandbach, CW11 4TE

Blackwell Grange (365), telecommunications site, Blackwell Grange Golf Course,

Darlington, DL3 8QL

Ampthill (332), Manor Farm, Millbrook Road, Houghton Conquest, Bedford, MK45 3JL

Mr Justice Fancourt

Hearing dates: 15-16 October 2024

The Rolls Building, Court 21

Decision date: 18 December 2024

Mr Toby Watkin KC and Mr Wayne Clark for the appellant

Mr Kester Lees KC for the respondent

© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2024

Cases referred to in this decision:

Linden Gardens Trust Ltd v Lenesta Sludge Disposals Ltd [1994] 1 AC 86

Bexhill UK Ltd v Razzaq [2012] EWCA Civ 1376

Budana v Leeds Teaching Hospital [2018] 1 WLR 1965

Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Ltd v Ashloch Ltd [2019] UKUT 338 (LC)

Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Ltd v Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd [2022] 1 WLR 3360

Vodafone Ltd v Potting Shed Bar and Gardens Ltd (formerly known as Gencomp (No 7) Ltd) [2023] EWCA Civ 825; [2024] 1 WLR 141

Gravesham Borough Council v On Tower UK Ltd [2024] UKUT 151 (LC)