Judicial Review of Holy Cross Planning

CHALFONT ST PETER PARISH COUNCIL GRANTED PERMISSION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF HOLY CROSS PLANNING PERMISSION IN THE HIGH COURT

Chalfont St Peter Parish Council has been granted leave to continue to a full Judicial Review in relation to the much disputed planning application put in by the Sisters of the Holy Cross at the site of the old Holy Cross Convent in Chalfont St. Peter. At two hearings in March, at the Royal Courts in London, representatives of both Chiltern District Council and Chalfont St. Peter Parish Council put forward arguments which were considered by Mr. Justice Ockelton. On the 13th of April 2012 he gave his Judgement which supported Chalfont St. Peter Parish Council’s claim that the Holy Cross planning permission should be examined by a higher court. A date for the Judicial Review is not expected until later this year.

Chalfont St Peter Parish Council allege that Chiltern District Council failed to consider and uphold its own policy to protect educational land in the Village when they passed planning permission in August 2010 for 198 dwellings and a care home on the site. The Parish Council has always argued that there should be a broader perspective of the issues that should pay proper consideration to moving the overcrowded Church of England Academy School to the Holy Cross site along with other developments that would help relieve many of the current planning constraints in Chalfont St Peter.

In addition to the Judicial Review Chalfont St Peter Parish Council are also challenging The District Council’s Core Strategy which they allege also fails to properly grapple with the educational issues in the area. Vice Chairman Cllr Richard Allen who has been coordinating both legal challenges said “Almost every concern we raised earlier in the planning process was ignored. At various stages we highlighted the fact that the Holy Cross site was a once in a lifetime opportunity to redesign Chalfont St Peter. Rather than just dump uniform development in one site we’d like to see the educational use retained and incorporated into a well planned development that takes into account the present and long term future needs of the community. This perfectly reasonable approach has been ignored by Chiltern District Council’s planners leaving us with no other option but to take legal action”.   

Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr. John Hatton, who is overseeing the development of the Village’s Neighbourhood Plan sees the issues arising from the legal challenge as an opportunity for everyone to benefit including the residents, the District Council and the land owners “This situation is just what we need to create an opportunity for all parties concerned, the site owner, the residents of Chalfont St Peter, the District and Parish Councils and the developers to work out a solution which is acceptable to all of them. If all parties are willing to be open minded, then a plan that satisfies them all should be achievable. In the meantime, the Neighbourhood Plan team will be looking at all aspects of the future needs of the village and what developments are needed to meet them. If any residents would like to help in this exciting opportunity, then please contact the Clerk at the Parish Council”


Edited by Elaine Q - 17 January 2013 at 11:11am