Open Call for Papers: Journal of Property, Planning and Environmental Law

The Journal of Property, Planning and Environmental Law publishes original legal research for academic scholars, policy makers and practitioners, including those working in real property, housing, legal and real estate practice, landlord and tenant law, environmental regulation and land use planning.

In recent years the journal has increasingly attracted submissions from around the world exploring contemporary issues in the property law realm, using both jurisdiction-specific and comparative approaches, including the following articles:

• EU law developments in non-performing loans: the new Directive on Secondary Mortgage Markets
• Speculative land fragmentation in the Netherlands: the potential of Nordic land formation tools to combat land shredding
• Is mandatory seller disclosure of flood risk necessary? A Brisbane case study
• Legal structures and contractual frameworks in hybrid real estate development: a Finnish perspective 
• Legal change in property law: a case study on the tragedy of Chilean lithium
• The “just and equitable” test in New Zealand’s strata law: reflections and lessons for other jurisdictions
• Can community land trust models work in Peru? Researching community-based land tenure models for affordable housing
• Regulating informal housing for the Syrian reconstruction. Between urban renewal and upgrading

From a UK property law perspective, the journal’s recent articles have included:

• A devious and risible device’? Examining land transactions designed to engage Section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016
• Delivering a culture change in property guardianship: recommendations for reform to the regulatory landscape
• Homes and home working: a property law perspective
• Enforcing the Nationally Described Space Standard: the regulation of “Sub-standard” English housing
• “From the lease’s point of view”: the role of tied leases in shaping the UK pub sector

As Editors we are keen to maintain an innovative and balanced blend of global and UK-focussed submissions. Noting the rapid pace of change within the UK property law scene at the moment, we therefore would especially welcome submissions from scholars working in this area.

This could include analysis of recent property law legislation such as the Leasehold Reform and Urban Development Act 2025, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 or Scotland’s Land Reform Bill. Or it might comprise examination of the property law impacts of policies such as Biodiversity Net Gain, buildings safety, energy efficiency, business rates reform or enabling housing development. Equally, contributions might examine longer-standing doctrinal or socio-legal themes within property law, such as housing law, commercial leases, rights to light, boundary disputes, conveyancing or agricultural property. We are happy to consider all suggestions.

Authors are invited to discuss potential submissions with either of the journal’s assistant editors (who are both UK property law scholars). The journal’s editorial team comprises:

Editor: Dr Luke Bennett, Sheffield Hallam University (l.e.bennett@shu.ac.uk)
Planning & Environmental Law; Legal Geography

Assistant Editor: Dr Michael Poulsom, Manchester Metropolitan University (m.poulsom@mmu.ac.uk) Property Law

Assistant Editor: Dr Emily Walsh, University of Portsmouth (emily.walsh@port.ac.uk)
Property Law; Socio-Legal Studies

This is an Open Call for submissions, and therefore it does not have a deadline. Submissions that pass peer review will be published in our forthcoming general issues.

To check author guidelines, and to submit a manuscript please do so via the journal’s submission page here: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/jppel

We are also happy to receive proposals for Special Issues on Property Law topics (or on any other topic which falls within the Journal’s scope). Please discuss your idea with a member of the editorial team in the first instance.