Judge refuses permission for judicial review of 2,300-home garden town development

The garden town project is a cross-boundary plan that spans five council areas and two counties, Essex and Hertfordshire.

The nine-year programme will see a total of 16,000 homes built across four new neighbourhoods and seven new villages.

The judicial review claim targeted permission to build homes around the village of Gilston.  

Cllr Vicky Glover-Ward, Executive Member for Planning and Growth at East Hertfordshire Council, said: “The council, together with its Harlow and Gilston Garden Town partners, has worked diligently over many years to bring these plans to the point of approval, and we are pleased that the court recognised this today."

She added: “We hope this decision draws a line under a process that only delays the delivery of much-needed new housing, including 2,300 homes for people currently struggling to get onto the property ladder.

"Alongside new homes, the plans will provide vital infrastructure, jobs, leisure and community facilities such as healthcare. In total, the development is expected to bring over £1.3 billion of investment into the region, benefitting both existing and future communities for generations to come.”

The decision comes three months on from Lang J refusing a separate judicial review challenge against the initiative.

Her refusal in June concerned East Hert's decision to grant permission to 10,000 homes across seven new villages. It was refused on the papers.

Adam Carey