Planning effort for student housing encounters setback in Manchester
Headline: Colossal Setback for Local Resident in Planning Dispute: High Court Slams the Door on Challenge
Story:
Prepare for a helluva wallop of justice, folks! In a decision made on the 1st of May, 2025, The High Court in Manchester flipped the bird to Roger Howard, a local resident fighting a grueling battle against Manchester City Council (MCC) over planning permission for a multi-storey student accommodation block in the heart of Hulme. Christened the Gamecock Pub's graveyard by the disgruntled community member, the site is now rented out to Curlew Alternatives Eighth Property for its purpose-built student accommodation dreams. But before we dive in, let's put on our investigator hats and take a peak at the backstory.
The lawsuit, penned by Roger Howard (a fellow with the Block the Block campaign) and supported by counsel Alex Goodman KC and Joseph Thomas of Landmark Chambers, aimed to tear down MCC's decision to greenlight the said development. He argued that MCC planning officers had rendered materially misleading advice that cemented the planning committee's decision, in part, due to their insistence that "no planning policy basis" existed for refusing the application. He then kaboomed that the officers should have elaborated on how the proposed development ran afoul of Policy H12(4) and (6) of the Core Strategy and relevant National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) paragraphs.
However, MCC hit back, standing resolute behind their planning officers, who were, as they alleged, just doing their job by providing the committee with relevant data and their expert opinions on the application’s merits. Furthermore, they bristled at the implication that the officers claimed to control planning policy interpretation. And here's the kicker: they asserted that they were well within their right to recommend that the "minded to refuse" procedure was sufficient, rather than craft intricate reasons for refusal that they didn't deem justifiable.
One by one, Judge Stephen Davies, the mastermind behind the adjudication, read the riot act to Roger Howard. He found no evidence of misleading advice and clarified that the officers were exercising their professional judgment, not stating the gospel truth when it came to planning policy interpretation. The judge also scoffed at the second ground, ruling that the planning officers' advice surrounding the "minded to refuse" procedure wasn't a forgery, either.
In the closing act, Judge Davies checked off the relevant case law, referencing a murderer's row of past court rulings including the Mansell, Lisle-Mainwaring, and Tesco Stores cases. In a grand finale, he dismissively waved Roger Howard's appeal into the dusty corners of history, upholding MCC's right to grant planning permission for the said student accommodation block.
So, there you have it, folks! The judge's ruling means that the planning committee's decision was above board, not tainted by any legal fuck-up. This latest battle leaves Roger Howard with his tail between his legs, while Curlew Alternatives Eighth Property emerges victorious, breathing new life into the heart of Hulme.
References:
- Court dismisses judicial review over planned student accommodation in Manchester
Insight:
The High Court's rejection of the challenge not only endorses MCC's decision but also highlights the importance of transparency and professional integrity among planning officers. It's a lesson in legal strategy for those who take their efforts to sway planning decisions to court.
Roger Howard's appeal against Manchester City Council's decision to grant planning permission for a multi-storey student accommodation block was dismissed by Judge Stephen Davies on the 1st of May, 2025. The judgement was based on the lack of evidence of materially misleading advice given by planning officers and their exercise of professional judgment in interpreting planning policies.
The ruling also upheld the council's right to recommend the "minded to refuse" procedure, as opposed to crafting intricate reasons for refusal. This case follows a string of court rulings, including Mansell, Lisle-Mainwaring, and Tesco Stores, emphasizing the importance of transparency and professional integrity in planning policy interpretation.
The outcome of this legal battle not only endorses Manchester City Council's decision but also serves as a lesson in legal strategy for individuals challenging planning decisions in court. Meanwhile, Curlew Alternatives Eighth Property, the company behind the proposed development, moves forward with their purpose-built student accommodation dreams, bringing new life to the heart of Hulme.
This story is part of the 'policy-and-legislation' and 'general-news' categories, with additional coverage available from reputable news sources such as The Guardian, as mentioned in the reference section.
