A judicial review could be launched over a Nottinghamshire council's decision to grant planning permission for eight houses after some of its own officers said the development could have "significant adverse impacts." Ashfield District Council's Planning Committee approved the development at a planning meeting on February 1.
The development would be situated on Silverhill Lane in Teversal, a small village in Sutton. But the plans have already provoked significant controversy, with Ashfield MP Lee Anderson facing libel action after claiming that "money had changed hands in brown envelopes" over the planning permission.
Michael Hollis, who successfully applied for the building of the eight houses, said he was "outraged" by Mr Anderson's statement and has instructed solicitors to take the first steps towards bringing a libel claim. Now, a judicial review into Ashfield District Council's decision could be launched after it provoked criticism from several local residents.
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A judicial review involves a judge ruling on the lawfulness of a decision made by a public body. Those seeking a review have to start by sending notification to the relevant public body that they intend to apply for one.
Adrian Woodhouse, who has lived on Silverhill Lane for 25 years and is one of those opposing Mr Hollis' plans, says this notification was delivered to Ashfield District Council in person on Monday (February 20). Ashfield District Council now has 14 days to reply to the residents before their application for judicial review proceeds.
Mr Woodhouse, 71, said: "The report from Ashfield District Council's very own officers made clear that this was not a suitable application. This will lead to an avalanche of other applications from those owning open fields, because the council will have to apply the same principals to those applications as they have to this one.
"This development is also going to wreck the life of the poor man who lives next to the site." The Teversal, Stanton Hill and Skegby Neighbourhood Planning Forum says "new housing is not sustainable and will cause significant harm to the countryside".
The group adds: "The Forum is sympathetic to the decision by local residents to pursue a judicial review." A report from Ashfield District Council officers presented at the February 1 meeting stated: "The site is not considered to be a suitable location for the proposed development.
"There would be significant adverse impacts from the proposal which are of a similar nature to recent appeal decisions which refused development." If local residents feel that Ashfield District Council's response to their judicial review notification letter is not sufficient, they will then apply to the courts for the judicial review to take place.
Most decisions on this are usually made within around three to four months. The residents estimate that they will need around £10,000 to meet the costs of a review, with a fundraising campaign in the area having now been launched.
Permission for the building of the eight houses was passed at the February 1 meeting by six votes to three. Ashfield District Council says it is unable to comment on the matter at this time.
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