[2024] UKUT 51 (LC)

Case No: LC-2023-164

A NOTICE OF REFERENCE UNDER SCHEDULE 3A TO THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT 2003

Royal Courts of Justice

23 February 2024

TRIBUNALS, COURTS AND ENFORCEMENT ACT 2007

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CODE – CODE RIGHTS – whether the agreement was a Code agreement – what is electronic communications apparatus – building whose “sole purpose” is to enclose electronic communications apparatus – validity of a notice under paragraph 31 of the Code – whether separate contractual notice required

BETWEEN:

ON TOWER UK LIMITED

Claimant

-and-

BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLC

Respondent

Kenton Road Telephone Exchange,

Kenton Park Parade,

South Kenton,

Harrow,

Middlesex, HA3 8DH

Upper Tribunal Judge Elizabeth Cooke and Mr Peter D McCrea FRICS FCIArb

9 and 10 January 2024

Mr Kester Lees for the claimant, instructed by Pinsent Masons LLP

Ms Stephanie Tozer KC and Ms Tricia Hemans for the respondent, instructed by Addleshaw Goddard LLP

© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2024

The following cases are referred to in this decision:

Biles v Caesar [1957] 1 WLR 156

Blunden v Frogmore Investments Ltd [2002] EWCA Civ 573

Commercial Properties Ltd v Wood [1968] 1 QB 15

CTIL v Keast [2019] UKUT 116 (LC)

Inland Revenue Commissioners v Mills [1975] AC 38 (HL)

Marks & Spencer plc v BNP Paribas Services Securities Trust Co (Jersey) Ltd [2015] UKSC 72

O’May v City of London Real Property Co Ltd [1983] 2 AC 726

R v Spooner (ex p Arun DC) [2007] EWHC 307 (Admin)

Scholl Mfg Co Ltd v Clifton (Slim-Line) Ltd [1967] 1 Ch 41

Smyth-Britt v Chubb [2004] 2 WLUK 621

1.