(& 18-20 Bruton St) Bst Grd & Mezz Flrs 18-19, Berkeley Square, W1J 6EG

What was argued and what the tribunal found

Two car showrooms operated in common occupation were proposed for merger under PICO legislation. The parties agreed a combined valuation of £585,222 before end allowances and the established tone of value of £1,550 per m² Zone A, but disagreed on appropriate end allowances. The Valuation Officer conceded only 5% for the split unit, whilst the Appellant sought three separate allowances totalling approximately 33% (13.25% width-to-depth, 12.5% layout, 7.5% quantum). The tribunal allowed the appeal, accepting comparable evidence that the property warranted 5% for width-to-depth ratio, 7.5% for poor layout (a segregated divided property with floor level changes and structural impediments), and 7.5% for quantum (the property at 1,229 m² being significantly over-sized relative to its valuation scheme), resulting in a final RV of £467,500.

Summary generated from the decision text and checked against it. The appellant was H R Owen Plc, represented.

Grounds argued

• Comparable assessments (tone) · decisive
• Rental evidence
• Quantum or end allowance
• Floor area or measurement

Evidence

Rents, Settled assessments, Photographs, Expert report

Cases cited

W H Smith v Clee (VO) [1978] RA 93; Futures London Limited v. Stratford (VO) [2005] RA 47; Lotus and Delta v Culverwell (VO) and Leicester City Council [1976] RA 141; O'Brien v. Harwood (VO) [2002]; K Shoe Shops Ltd v Hardy (VO) [1983] RA 145; Burroughs Machines Limited v Mooney (VO) [1977] RA 45; Marks v Eastaugh (VO) [1993] RA 11; Jaffron Properties Limited v Prisk (VO) [1997] RA 137; Pointer v Norfolk Assessment Committee [1922] 2 KB 471; H J Banks and Company Limited v. Speight (VO) and Snowball (VO) [2005]; Shrewsbury Schools v Shrewsbury Borough Council and Plumpton (VO) [1960] 7 RRC 313; Imperial College of Science and Technology v Ebdon (VO) and Westminster City Council [1984] RA 213; Irving Brown and Daughter v Smith (VO) [1996] RA 53; Gardiner & Theobald LLP v David Jackson (VO) [2018] UKUT 0253 (LC); F W Woolworth & Co v Peck (VO) [1967] RA 365; Trevail (VO) v C&A Modes and Marks & Spencer [1967] RA 124

Hearing

13 October 2021

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