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High Court overturns government decision on 180-home scheme
A High Court judge has overturned the former communities secretary’s decision to refuse planning permission for a 180-home scheme in Cheshire.
In July last year, then-communities secretary Greg Clark rejected the plans, disagreeing with the planning inspector’s recommendation that permission be granted.
But today, Robin Purchas QC quashed Mr Clark’s refusal, saying the secretary of state had not given “adequate reasons” for his decision.
The scheme, in Winsford, Cheshire, is planned by local landowner Richard Verdin and would provide up to 40% affordable housing.
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It was initially refused by Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2013 and was called in by the government after Mr Verdin appealed.
Mr Clark had said the scheme would conflict with the council’s local development plan, which included a five-year housing land supply, and would cause “environmental harm” by developing green fields.
But the judge ruled that Mr Clark had wrongly rejected a condition proposed by Mr Verdin that would see the homes delivered largely by Cheshire-based builders and jobs and training opportunities given to local workers, rendering his decision to refuse permission unlawful.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will now have to reconsider the application.
The DCLG has been approached for comment.
