Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Norfolk villagers win urban growth battle

 

Brian Farmer
Friday 24 February 2012 10:21 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Norfolk villagers who formed an action group called Snub in an attempt to stem urbanisation today won a High Court battle with council chiefs.

Snub - the Stop Norwich Urbanisation action group - successfully argued that three Norfolk local authorities had breached a "directive" requiring councils to assess the effects development plans might have on the environment.

A High Court judge ruled in Snub's favour after group chairman Stephen Heard took legal action against Broadland District Council, South Norfolk District Council and Norwich City Council.

Mr Heard, 57, of Salhouse near Norwich, complained that "reasonable alternatives" to urban growth had not been fully examined - and the judge concluded that the councils had breached a planning law "directive".

"It is part of the purpose of this process to test whether what may start out as the preferred option should still end up as preferred after a fair and public analysis of what the authority regards as reasonable alternatives," said Mr Justice Ouseley, in a written ruling handed down at a High Court hearing in London today.

"I do not consider that such an equal appraisal has been accorded to the alternatives."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in