BREAKING: Judicial review of Tetbury planning decisions to be launched (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

BREAKING: Judicial review of Tetbury planning decisions to be launched

1:17pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News By Ian Craig

A CONTROVERSIAL government decision to grant planning permission to 289 homes in Tetbury is to be challenged in court.

Cotswold District Council announced this afternoon it would seek a judicial review of the recent decisions to overturn refusal for planning permission on greenfield sites at Highfield Farm and Berrells Road.

CDC’s cabinet member for forward planning Cllr Nick Parsons (Con, Ermin) said the council believed it had reasonable grounds to launch a review.

“We think we have a valid case both in terms of the approach the Planning Inspectorate has taken towards the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in relation to major housing development and also their consideration of the overall number of houses required,” he said. “We are particularly concerned that the Planning Inspectorate assessed that CDC is a ‘persistent under deliverer of housing’ because this view is completely at odds with the evidence.

“Furthermore, the inspector assigned to an appeal relating to Kemble – only a month before the Tetbury appeals - expressly rejected that argument.”

CDC leader Cllr Lynden Stow (Con, Campden-Vale) added the council would be meeting with planning minister Nick Boles to discuss its concerns.

“We will be spelling out exactly why these decisions are unacceptable to the district and our residents,” he said.

For more on this story, see next week’s Standard.