The High Court has refused a Judicial Review on a second Planning Inspectorate decision to refuse a development of 100 homes on the land off Chain House Lane in Whitestake.

​The proposal from Wainhomes was first rejected by South Ribble Borough Council’s Planning Committee in June 2019. The developer appealed, and a Planning Inquiry was undertaken. After the Inquiry ruled in favour of the Council, the matter was taken by Wainhomes to the High Court where it was ruled another Planning Inquiry would take place. This second inquiry ruled again in the Council’s favour. 

The High Court has now refused a request from Wainhomes for a Judicial Review into the ruling, meaning the matter is now closed and the land will not be used for development. 

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Councillor Paul Foster, Leader of South Ribble Borough Council said, “This is fantastic news for the borough. It’s been a long-fought legal battle, but we have been strong from the start in our convictions to refuse this development on the grounds that the development was inappropriate for the community, and I am pleased the High Court has not allowed this matter to continue. 

“We want to make it absolutely clear that as a council we are pro-development – but only when done in the right way, and in a way that is of benefit to our residents and the wider South Ribble community. When we don’t think a proposed development will deliver this, we will absolutely push back and defend our decisions.”

The Council had refused the development plans, saying the scheme was not necessary to meet the area’s housing need.

The Council was of the view that it could meet the five-year demand for homes through other planned developments in the borough, and said the land at Chain House Lane was protected under the local plan.

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