St Albans council has failed in its bid to overturn an inspector’s view that its local plan was unsound.
The council launched a judicial review to challenge David Hogger’s interim findings that the council had failed to fulfil its duty to cooperate. The case was heard in the High Court last month, and the decision was announced today.
In dismissing St Albans Council’s challenge, the judge, Sir Ross Cranston, said he could detect no legal flaw in the inspector’s decision. He went on to say that Hogger’s conclusions were neither irrational nor unlawful and there was nothing wrong with him “expressing concern” about the soundness of St Albans’ strategic housing plan.
St Albans has yet to comment but it is thought the council will now need to withdraw its local plan and may well need to repeat stages of the local plan process, engaging properly with its neighbours. Nine councils were named as “interested parties” in the case. They were: Dacorum, Hertsmere, Three Rivers, Watford, Welwyn Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Central Bedfordshire and North Hertfordshire.
St Albans is infamous as having the oldest local plan in England, dating back to 1994. This issue falls now to the new leader of the council, Cllr Alec Campbell, to resolve, following Cllr Julian Daly’s resignation earlier this year.
R on the Application of St Albans City and District Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Case Number: CO/26/2017
for Local Plans. Barwell’s admission, made in an interview at MIPIM, has been hotly tipped as the deadline looms and many Tory authorities seemed to be at threat.
The Housing & Planning Bill, which was introduced in October, is currently making its way through Parliament. It contains many of the Government’s key reforms to the planning system. With major changes expected, what will 2016 hold for the different stakeholders involved?
planning applications for a development of 123 homes and a health centre in Romford, Havering. Located around the historic Neopost House building, the proposed development will provide three blocks with affordable housing through social rent and shared ownership, as well as green recreation space for families.
The proposed development was for around 400 student rooms and a block of 85 co-living rooms for non-students in the centre of Guildford. Chelgate assisted with local community and political engagement. Co-living is a new concept, providing flexible, communal housing for young people which they would not otherwise have access to. Locating it next to student accommodation, with people of a similar age, is a logical approach which has attracted significant interest. The project achieved consent in 2018.
The Whatman paper factory, originally established some 300 years ago, once employed over 1,000 people: it is an integral part of the history of paper-making. Redrow South East proposed a development of around 200 homes very much in keeping with the history of the site and the existing Listed buildings. Chelgate assisted with political engagement and local community and stakeholder consultation for this historic site – we were a finalist in the Planning Project of the Year category of the PRCA public affairs awards in 2019.
