Huber's wins lawsuit to access neighbour's property

Butchery can now enter to demolish an adjoining wall to build new HQ and factory

- Grace Leong

The construction of meat products supplier Huber's Butchery's new headquarters and factory in Chin Bee Avenue recently got off the ground, after it won a legal victory to get temporary access to its neighbour's property.

Huber's needed to access its neighbour's property for 60 days so it could demolish an adjoining boundary wall and erect temporary support structures needed to start its redevelopment project. Works had been stalled for about 1 1/2 years because the neighbour had refused to allow it to do so. Huber's legal victory was detailed in a written judgment released on Sept 6.

It is the first time the High Court has granted an application by one tenant to temporarily access another's property in order to optimise land use.

Huber's lawyer, Mr Joseph Tay, a partner with Shook Lin & Bok, said the case could have implications for land owners, tenants and developers who need to renovate or redevelop their property, but have to put up temporary safety structures such as scaffolding, hoardings and dust-and-noise barriers on their neighbour's land.

Legally, this is not allowed unless the neighbour consents, as it amounts to trespass.