The High Court has quashed the planning permission for the controversial 3,600 home West of Stevenage greenfield sprawl development and referred the issue back to the communities secretary for reconsideration.
In the latest chapter of the very long-running saga, North Herts District Council and Hertfordshire County Council sought judicial review of the planning permission granted by former communities secretary John Denham in 2009.
The councils argued the proposals lacked sufficient affordable housing, would be unsustainable and would expose both councils to unacceptable financial risks on infrastructure provision.
"We are very pleased with the decision," said North Herts portfolio holder for planning, transport and enterprise Tom Brindley.
"The application site is a huge open swathe of North Hertfordshire's green belt and we have fought long and hard for more than 10 years to resist inappropriate development there. We strongly urge the secretary of state to draw a line under this saga by refusing planning permission. Councils and communities should be allowed to come up with sustainable plans for the future, sorting out their real housing needs as they are today, under a Localism agenda."
A consortium put forward two proposals for the greenfield land west of Stevenage and separated from it by a motorway, one with 3,600 homes and one with 5,000.
The plans attracted 26,000 objections and a public inquiry was held in 2005.
Later that year, John Prescott indicated he was minded to accept the 3,600 home proposal provided the developers agreed to make certain infrastructure provision.
Planning permission was eventually granted by Mr Denham in 2009.
Stevenage Borough Council bemoaned the decision, however, and said it was based on two minor technicalities.
“While we deeply regret this decision, I am heartened by the fact the judge did not consider the proposed development inappropriate in this location,” said executive member for environment and regeneration John Gardner.
“Stevenage Borough Council, unlike some local authorities, considers it has a responsibility to provide housing and economic growth to meet the needs of its local population. We will now be calling on the secretary of state to quickly resolve the two technicalities holding up this much-needed development in order to deliver on this Governments national agenda for economic growth.”
