Court orders remittal of all Leeds Green Belt housing allocations

Following the successful legal challenge to the adoption of the Leeds Site Allocations Plan (SAP) by Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum (which you can read about here), the Court has considered the parties’ written submissions and has today issued its Judgment on relief. All parts of the SAP allocating Green Belt sites for housing (including mixed use sites) are to be treated as not having been approved or adopted and are to be remitted back to the Secretary of State.  This will mean that the examination will be re-opened to consider the position in light of the substantive Judgment and it will be up to the Secretary of State to decide whether to appoint the same or a new inspector. The Judgment on relief is here, with the substantive Judgment here and the Judgment on the issue of capacity here. Jenny Wigley represented the Claimant, Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum. Matthew Fraser was junior Counsel for the Second Interested Party, Avant Homes (England) Limited.