A circa 250,000 sq ft office development in Windsor, Berkshire, is being challenged at the high court by a pensioner who claims it will overlook her home.
Margaret Horton, 81, of Viscount Court, Vansittart Road, wants Judge Sycanore to quash a government decision granting planning permission for five-building scheme at the adjacent Imperial House, 67 Alma Road.
She wants the judge to order the secretary of state for communities and local government to reconsider the planning application made by developer Europa Rock.
Horton is worried about the visual impact of the development, which she claims will overlook her lounge and bedroom, as well as the noise and additional traffic it will generate.
She claims that the government planning inspector who granted planning permission failed to consider the need for a full environmental impact assessment prior to granting permission.
The planning application was refused by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in July 2010, on the basis of overdevelopment and the adverse impact on a neighbouring building. However, the planning inspector granted permission on 9 February this year.
Horton’s counsel, Richard Harwood, argues the decision is unlawful because of the failure to make a screening direction on the question of whether an environmental impact assessment was needed prior to permission being granted.
Lawyers for the secretary of state and Europa Rock claim the inspector relied on a valid screening opinion issued by the council in January, which stated that the proposal was not likely to have significant environmental effects.
Judgment has been reserved.
