Legal briefs: Court of Appeal dismisses Horse Hill challenge; Suffolk housing development permission quashed

Court of Appeal dismisses Horse Hill legal challenge

A legal challenge against Surrey County Council's decision to grant planning permission to retain and expand the Horse Hill Well Site at Horse Hill near Gatwick Airport (including two existing wells and the drilling of four new ones) for the production of hydrocarbons over a 25-year period has been dismissed.

The Planner

Suffolk housing development permission quashed

The High Court has quashed outline permission for 210 homes in Suffolk after objections from Thurston Parish Council that planning committee members on Mid Suffolk District Council had been misled about the scheme proposed by developer Bloor Homes and landowner Sir George Agnew.

Local Government Lawyer

Basildon local plan furore

Basildon Council has suspended its decision to withdraw its emerging local plan over green belt issues  after the local authority’s monitoring officer warned that he would be required to issue a report under section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. This would look at the legality of the decision and consider whether the move constituted maladministration.

Local Government Lawyer

Welsh colliery licence row heads to court

Campaign group the Coal Action Network is threatening legal action against the UK and Welsh governments over the decision to approve a mining licence at Aberpergwm colliery near Glynneath. The licence will see another 40 million tonnes of coal mined by operator Energybuild Ltd. The group argues that both governments are at fault over the approval of the coal mining licence. The issue has fuelled a lengthy row between Whitehall and Cardiff Bay over which body has the authority to block the licence application that was approved last month.

Wales Online

Mitcham developer hit with £30k fine

A developer behind a series of unauthorised extensions at a property in Mitcham has been ordered to pay more than £30,000 by way of a fine and costs following enforcement action and legal proceedings brought on behalf of Merton Council by the South London Legal Partnership.

Local Government Lawyer

Dublin Hell Fire Club centre consent challenge

Ireland’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear a local residents’ group’s appeal against the High Court’s decision to uphold planning permission for a €15 million visitor centre at Dublin’s Hell Fire club.

Irish Times

Appeal agreed over Project Ireland 2040’s green credentials

Ireland’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal containing “novel and important” issues from an environmental group against the lower courts’ refusals to overturn the €116 billion Project Ireland 2040 plan for the country owing to alleged lack of proper environmental assessments and failure to properly address climate change.

Irish Times

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