Planning permission High Court challenge – 10 things to know

A High Court challenge could provide the solution to a problem planning decision. But how straightforward is the process?

If you disagree with a local authority’s decision to grant planning permission, or you have had your planning application refused at appeal, or your enforcement notice appeal refused by a planning inspector, you may have a claim for a High Court challenge of that decision.

Ros Trotman, planning associate at Thrings solicitors, explains 10 key points to bear in mind before considering a legal challenge (otherwise known as a judicial review or statutory review).

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1. You must have exhausted all other routes of appeal, as this is an avenue of last resort.

2. It is not a rerun of the merits of the planning arguments. It must fall within one of the legal grounds of challenge. A planning solicitor can advise you on whether your case has possible grounds, with examples including:

• Where the decision-maker (such as local authority or planning inspector) has misapplied the law or policy when determining a planning matter
• Where the decision-maker has acted irrationally – for example, the decision “is so unreasonable that no reasonable decision-maker could ever have come to it”
• Where proper procedures have not been followed, such as a failure to consult on a planning application
• Where a decision-maker’s own statements or conduct have led to an expectation about the way they will act, such as a failure to follow their own planning enforcement policy.

3. Would the decision-maker’s mistake have made any difference to the outcome of the decision? If not, the court won’t interfere.

4. The outcome of these types of challenges is usually to quash the problem decision and send it back to the decision-making authority to redetermine. It is not for the High Court to determine the decision itself.

5. Most planning claims must be issued within six weeks of the problem decision, so it is important that you seek legal advice as early as possible to allow time for your case to be prepared.

6. The pre-action letter before issue of a High Court challenge can be a very effective tool in securing consent of the defendant decision-maker to quash the problem decision without having to go through the full High Court process.

7.  In Thrings’ experience, cases can take between six and 18 months from issuing a challenge to judgment.

8. Unlike planning appeals, costs in High Court cases tend to be awarded to the winning party.

9. You may be entitled to apply for a cost cap on your exposure to the other party’s fees in the event you are unsuccessful.

10.   If you are thinking about bringing a High Court claim, take legal advice from a planning solicitor as soon as possible, as such cases require careful consideration and compliance with a strict set of civil procedure rules and practice directions.