October 13th, 2022
Woodcock Hill Village Green update
We have reported on this case before. It has been a long standing ELF matter working with the wonderful Woodcock Hill Village Green Committee in their fight to save Woodcock Hill from development. Having received the devastating news from PINS in May this year that Taylor Wimpey’s application to de-register part of this much loved village green was successful, the only option for the community was to consider a public law challenge.
The judicial review is now fully underway and it was with great relief that the High Court recently granted the claimant permission to proceed on all grounds with Aarhus costs protection. This case looks to be one of the most important cases that ELF has been involved with for a few years. Not only tackling the issue of there being no Aarhus costs protection in village green cases but also the possibility of the evolution of village green law to include nature conservation as a legitimate pastime.
We are so thankful to our friends at Richard Buxton Solicitors for taking this important case on and Joe Thomas at Landmark for sticking with it. A case report from Landmark Chambers is available here.
