Since 21 April 2009, offices of the Administrative Court have been established in the District Registries of the High Court in Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds and Manchester. As well as accommodating the administrative side of Court business, the regionalisation of the Administrative Court is intended to increase the number of sittings of the Court outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Those sittings will not necessarily be in the cities where the offices lie. For example, a claim issued in Leeds might be heard in Newcastle.

Gwion Lewis of Landmark Chambers appeared for the Welsh Ministers in the  first s. 288 planning High Court challenge to be heard in Wales before Beatson J.

The Administrative Court Office has expressed an expectation that proceedings will be administered and determined in the region with which the claimant has the closest connection. The parties may (and indeed should) express any preference for a particular venue in the claim form, or in form N464 (an application for directions as to venue). Relevant factors governing the choice of venue will include the ease of travel, the location of the defendant’s relevant offices and the location of the claimant’s legal representatives.

There are certain exceptions, where the cases should be listed in London. Cases to be heard by a Divisional Court will still be heard at the RCJ, as will any proceedings under CPR Parts 76 and 79 (control orders and financial proceedings relating to terrorism). Similarly, proceedings relating to the proceeds of crime, appeals against extradition and proceedings relating the discipline of solicitors will all be heard in London.

The move to regionalisation is a consequence of the report of the Judicial Working Group, convened by May LJ, which reported in January 2007 and recommended regionalisation. The full effects of regionalisation will clearly take some time to be fully appreciated. It is hoped that the distribution of work load will take some of the pressure off the Administrative Court in London, although it may be that the regional presence of the Court stimulates more High Court challenges, where there have historically been significant regional disparities.

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