Public Law Specialists Secure Victory For Warminster Residents

Residents of the Wiltshire town of Warminster have expressed their delight after planning permission for 35 homes near the River Wylye was overturned by the High Court following a Judicial Review of the original decision.

Outline planning permission for 35 homes alongside the river had previously been granted to developers HPH Housing and HAB Housing by Wiltshire Council.

Local residents objected on the grounds the river was part of the River Avon Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, as well as the appearance of bias on the committee that granted planning permission.

Irwin Mitchell was appointed to give legal advice for Judicial Review of the decision to allow the development to go ahead.

In a hearing at the High Court, Mr Justice Cranston, granted permission for a Judicial Review and quashed the decision of 21 January 2015 to grant planning permission for the homes on the grounds of the appearance of bias.

The case is the latest in a series of challenges in which Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Public Law have helped local communities take action in relation to planning issues.

Alex Peebles, a public law expert at Irwin Mitchell, representing a concerned resident, said: