High Court dismisses challenge to grant of planning permission for housing development in Suffolk

On 23 April 2024, the High Court (James Strachan KC sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) handed down judgment in Mid-Suffolk District Council v SSLUHC [2024] EWHC 930 (Admin). The court dismissed a claim under section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 challenging the decision of the Secretary of State for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities (“SSLUHC”), by his appointed inspector, to grant planning permission to Gladman Developments Limited (“Gladman”) for the erection of up to 210 dwellings in the village of Thurston, Suffolk.

The claim was brought by Mid-Suffolk District Council, who unsuccessfully argued that the Inspector had erred in dealing with a draft policy in an emerging local plan, and erred in his approach to section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

The judgment is available here.

Matthew Fraser acted for SSLUHC, instructed by the Government Legal Department, and Guy Williams KC acted for Gladman, instructed by Addleshaw Goddard LLP.