Planning permission for zoo quashed following animal rights challenge

The High Court has quashed a planning permission granted earlier this year for a new zoo, following a legal challenge brought by the charity Freedom for Animals (the working name of the Captive Animals’ Protection Society, founded in 1957). The Defendant Cheshire East Council and the zoo owner both consented to judgment.

The Council accepted that its planning committee members failed to give adequate reasons for departing from the Council’s previous findings regarding the policy compliance of materially the same proposal which it had previously rejected, contrary to North Wiltshire District Council v Secretary of State for the Environment (1993) 65 P. & C.R. 137. Other grounds of challenge included the Council’s treatment of animal welfare concerns and the application of the Council’s published Scheme of Delegation.

Alex Shattock acted for Freedom for Animals, instructed by Edie Bowles of Advocates for Animals.