Judge upholds planning approval for 10,000-home East Herts new town scheme

A judge has refused permission for a judicial review of the planning approval for a 10,000-home new town in East Hertfordshire.

In January this year, East Herts District Council granted permission for two outline applications for a 10,000-home project in Gilston, which form part of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

Following the approval, a claim was submitted for a judicial review of the decision. Last week, Justice Lang denied that claim, upholding the original planning ruling.

Councillor Vicky Glover-Ward, executive member for planning and growth at the council, said the local authority had “worked diligently” for many years with partners on the new town project to bring plans to the point of approval and that they were “pleased that the court recognised this today”.

“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,” she said.

Registered provider Places for People will deliver 8,500 of the new homes, as well as associated community infrastructure.

Group chief executive Greg Reed said the verdict was “a pivotal milestone for a landmark project that has been many years in the making”.

“The court’s refusal of the challenge on all grounds brings welcome clarity and enables us to move forward with confidence – beginning delivery of 8,500 new homes and over £1 billion of infrastructure, starting this year,” he said.

>>See also: New towns programme needs dedicated minister and infrastructure-first approach, say Lords

>>See also: Former Homes England chief executive joins Places for People board

Nearly 2,000 of the homes Places for People are developing at Gilston are intended to be affordable. Reed said the scheme was estimated to deliver £6bn in economic benefits.

Taylor Wimpey will deliver the remaining 1,500 homes at Gilston, of which 345 are set to be affordable.

Some enabling works at Gilston have already been underway since last December.