High Court overturns rejection for 45-home application

A court has overturned a planning inspector's decision blocking a housing development.

Cora Homes had twice been denied permission to build a 45-home estate off Brington Road in Flore, Northamptonshire.

The first time was by West Northamptonshire Council in November 2022, and then again by the government's Planning Inspectorate in 2023.

The developer took the case to the High Court, where judge ruled in its favour, reversing the inspectorate's refusal and allowing the appeal.

The development would consist of 45 homes, 40% of which are designated as affordable housing.

Initially, the Planning Inspectorate dismissed Cora's application because of concerns over its impact on the village landscape, citing a “high level of harm” to local views, and concluded that these effects outweighed any potential benefits, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, in October, Mr Justice Mould at the High Court found that the inspector had misapplied a local policy concerning affordable housing on rural sites.

He ruled that the policy did not apply in this case, and so allowed the appeal.

With outline approval now granted, the council will need to review plans through a reserved matters application before any construction begins.

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