A judge has upheld the grant of planning permission for a development of up to 90 homes at Reading, dismissing the challenge brought by the local authority.
West Berkshire District Council rejected the initial proposal for up to 129 homes on land at Firlands Farm, Hollybush Lane, Burghfield Common, Reading, put forward by HDD Burghfield Common.
However, on appeal, an inspector approved a revised scheme for up to 90 homes. In doing so, the inspector considered that the housing requirement in the council’s core strategy did not provide an appropriate basis for the calculation of a five-year supply of housing.
Rather than an annual average of 525 new homes, the inspector considered that a figure of 833 dwellings per year was the appropriate starting point in calculating a five-year housing requirement.
The authority claimed that the inspector was wrong to treat the strategy and policies for housing set out in the Core Strategy as out of date, was wrong to identify the housing need figure as 833 dwellings per year and failed to give adequate reasons for this decision.
It argued that the decision causes it “considerable prejudice,” as it is relevant to all planning applications for housing development in the district.
But the judge found that the inspector was entitled to depart from the figure in the development plan for the reasons he gave, adding: “In my view he was entitled to conclude that the material considerations he identified outweighed the annual housing requirement figure in the Core Strategy. The housing requirement in Policy CS1 no longer provided an appropriate basis for the calculation of a five-year supply.
“I am satisfied that the reasons provided by the inspector for the conclusions he reached on the “principal important controversial issues” are clear and adequate.
West Berkshire District Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Planning Court (Supperstone J) 16 February 2016
William Upton (instructed by Legal Services West Berks DC) for the claimant
