Supermarket giant Asda has seen off a judicial review challenge over its proposed plans in Telford, Shropshire.
The judicial review proceedings were brought by Hark Apollo, the owner of Telford shopping centre in the town centre. The mall owner had claimed that planning permission for an Asda superstore on the site of the form civic offices on the edge of Telford would negatively impact trading in the town centre.
Telford Trustee No 1 and Telford Trustee No 2, the special-purpose vehicles that own the mall on behalf of Hark Apollo, had pursued and secured their own planning permission for an Asda in town.
The trustees claimed that the council “raced through” Asda’s application and granted it within nine weeks, while it took nine months for permission to be granted for the Hark Apollo scheme.
The trustees had alleged the council failed in its duty to give adequate reasons for its decision to grant Asda permission for the development.
Lawyers for the council successfully argued that there was no error in law in its decision.
Philip Bartram, Asda’s property communications manager, said: “”We are very pleased with the court’s decision today. It reflects our long standing view that our planning application was dealt with in a proper and legal manner by the council.
“We are looking forward to progressing our development, which will act as an important catalyst in the wider regeneration of the town centre.”
Noella.Pio.Kivlehan@estatesgazette.com
