Cherwell Council has lost its High Court bid to overturn a planning inspector’s decision allowing the continued use of an office building within the Oxford green belt.
The High Court ruled that the inspector had been ‘entitled to find’ that while the development was inappropriate, ‘very special circumstances’ outweighed the harm to the green belt.
Premier Financial Management Ltd used the building at Upper Campsfield Farm in Woodstock for its mortgage and financial services business which the council argued was ‘inappropriate’ development because of the harm caused to the green belt by increased traffic flow.
The inspector found that Premier’s plans to limit staff traffic flow would sufficiently reduce the harm so as to qualify as very special circumstances.
Judge Hamilton, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, told the council that while the case was ‘unusual’ and the arguments were ‘finely balanced’ the claim would be dismissed.
References: EGi News 15/09/06
