Victoria Geoghegan, President of the Planning Officers Society (S6 E2)

Our Special Guest this week is Victoria Geoghegan, President of the Planning Officers Society. Decisions of the Week: Richards v Environment Agency [2022] EWCA Civ 26 a decision of the Court of Appeal dated 17th January 2022 allowing an appeal & clarifying the proper approach to allegations that an environmental regulator, the EA, is acting in a way incompatible with Convention Rights based on Articles 2 & 8. R (oao SPVRG Ltd) v Pembs CC  [2022] EWHC 143 (Admin) a decision of Mrs Justice Steyn dated 7th January 2022, dismissing a challenge to the grant of a section 73 application relating to an established caravan park permission based on alleged defects in the officer’s report. Decision of an inspector dated 26th January 2022 dismissing an appeal against the refusal of Medway Council of an application for the erection of 72 C3 dwellings (18 x AH) & nursery associated highways and landscaping on arable fields, considered to be beyond a reasonable walking distance to services, limited public transport, harmful landscape impact but no 5 yr HLS. Decision of an inspector dated 26th January 2022 dismissing an appeal against the refusal of Doncaster Metropolitan BC to grant permission for a crematorium, memorial gardens & car parking in the Green Belt following an earlier beauty parade of 3 applications, assessing their effect on landscape character & appearance.