Wyre Forest District Council is delighted that the High Court has refused an application for permission for a judicial review of an independent planning inspector’s decision in Bewdley. The inspector had reached the same conclusion as the Council’s Planning Committee, which was that the housing development submitted by Gladman should not be permitted.

The council resolved to resist development of 195 new homes near Bewdley at its Planning Committee in June 2017. It objected to the proposed development by Gladman on the grounds it would have a detrimental effect on the historic setting of Bewdley. It has also stated that the development was unnecessary and undesirable and would cause adverse harm to the character of the landscape.

The developer took the case to the planning inspector, who in March 2018 refused to give permission for the housing and upheld the council’s position. Gladman then applied to the High Court for permission for a judicial review of the inspector’s decision.  Mr Justice Holgate has now announced he has refused permission for a judicial review.

In refusing the permission Mr Holgate stated that Gladman’s claim is “hopelessly unarguable and bound to fail.”

Councillor Ian Hardiman, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration said:

“We warmly welcome the High Court’s refusal of permission for a judicial review and are delighted that once again the conclusions reached by our planning committee have been backed.  This case highlights that as a council we are not afraid to say “no” to development in the ‘wrong’ place.”