Two plucky parish councils have launched a battle against their local lord’s castle.
The parishes of Gainford and Staindrop in Durham have issued a judicial review pre-application protocol letter to the county council after it granted permission for 151 houses to be built to fund the refurbishments of Raby Castle.
Durham’s planning committee voted for the plans on the basis that they were “enabling” developments, but the parish councils have cited concerns about procedures and legalities in the decision-making process.
Raby Estates, which comprises landholdings and trade operations owned by Lord Barnard, hopes the developments will raise about £3m to make repairs to the 14th-century castle.
