Fishbourne Developments Ltd v Stephens  [2020] EWHC 932 (Ch)

Gary Blaker QC appeared in this case involving the construction of words in an option agreement. The issue before the court was whether an option had been exercised by virtue of a planning permission obtained by the Claimant. HHJ Cooke sitting in the Chancery Division reviewed much of the recent case law concerning the construction of contracts. The Court went on to hold that “development” meant development of a new building albeit this did not have to be for agricultural use and “development of the Property” meant development of substantially the whole of the farm land which was the subject of the option.