Residents association The Whitstable Society can challenge Canterbury City Council’s decision to sell off a sea-front plot of land known as “the Oval” for an initial payment of £165,000.
Mr Justice Supperstone at the High Court in London, ruled that the Society could bring a judicial review of the council’s decision.
At today’s hearing the Society’s barrister, Daniel Stedman-Jones said that the land shouldn’t have been sold to developers because it was designated “open space”. In addition, he also said that the council should explain why it sold the plot for £165,000 when it has been valued as being worth as much as £1.6m.
He said that the case raised an “important issue” relating to local government’s accountability.
James Goudie QC, on behalf of the council, said that the claim had been brought out-of-time and should be dismissed. He said that, although there had been debate about whether or not the plot was “open space”, the council asserted that it was not. He said the sum of £160,000 was a “base payment” and the council might be due more money when the developers have been given planning permission.
Mr Justice Supperstone, hearing the case, said that all of the Whitstable Society’s were arguable, and the case should have a full hearing later this year.
The council sold the land to Sea Street Developments in December 2014, according to local newspaper reports. The developers plan to build seven holiday homes, eight houses, an urban square and a community building, the report said.
From the early 1960s until 2013, Whitstable Yacht Club rented the land from the council.
The Whitstable Society v Canterbury City Council, Administrative Court (Supperstone J) 8 June 2016
