Facts
Neighbours complained of noise from a motor-racing stadium and track that had operated for years under planning permission.
Issue
Is planning permission or 'coming to the nuisance' a defence, and when should damages replace an ?
Held
The stadium was liable in .
Principle
Planning permission is not a defence in itself. Coming to the nuisance is not a defence. Courts have a wide discretion to award damages instead of an injunction.
Why it matters
The leading modern nuisance case. Persuasive in Sierra Leone.
Cited in these chapters
Cite this page
Coventry v Lawrence [2014] UKSC 13; [2014] AC 822 (Lanbuk) <https://www.lanbuk.com/llb/torts/cases/coventry-v-lawrence> accessed 31 October 2026
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This summary is a Lanbuk study aid based on the generally known facts and reports of the case. It is not legal advice.