In an order dated 01.04.22, Lang J allowed a claim for judicial review of planning permission granted by Dorset Council (R (Hobbs) v Dorset Council (CO/556/2022)). The planning permission was for a residential extension. The claimant alleged that the Council had:
(a) breached its statutory duty to consult him by failing to pass his consultation response onto planning officers; (b) failed to have regard to material considerations; and (c) failed to provide adequate reasons.
The defendant local planning authority did not contest the claim and the High Court quashed the permission. This case serves as a helpful reminder of the importance of consultation in the determination of planning applications and of the need for local planning authorities to ensure that their decision-making is clearly recorded. The claimant was represented by Ben Fullbrook.