Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to challenge 270-home Watermill Bridge planning decision in court
A local authority will be mounting a legal challenge against the decision to allow a large 270-home community to be built just south of Newbury.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has confirmed that it has been given permission to proceed with a statutory review of the Planning Inspectorate’s controversial decision to allow the Watermill Bridge appeal.
The Watermill Bridge development - plans for which were put forward by Baughurst-based housing developer Bewley Homes - would be located just south of the county border in Hampshire, on a patch of land between the A34 and Andover Road.
A Basingstoke and Deane spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the High Court has given permission to proceed with a statutory review of the inspector’s decision to allow the Watermill Bridge appeal.
“The hearing date has been set for Tuesday, July 2 and it is scheduled to sit for one-and-a-half days.”
Councillors on both sides of the county border have been reacting positively to the news.
Basingstoke and Deane councillor John Izett (Conservative, Evingar) said: “I am relieved and pleased that there is a case to hear and I hope they will decide to overturn this travesty of a decision.”
West Berkshire councillor David Marsh (Green, Newbury Wash Common) said: “This is very good news.
“I am very pleased that the council is going ahead with this because the decision was very surprising.
“It is a completely unsuitable development in completely the wrong place and we were all amazed that the inspector allowed the appeal, so hopefully they will have it overturned through this legal process.”
Mr Marsh was also hopeful that the Watermill Bridge decision would be reversed in light of the 360-home Sandleford Park West development being given the green light last week.
He said: “In the wake of the shocking decision by West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee to allow Sandleford Park West, at least if Watermill Bridge doesn’t go ahead that will offer some respite to the people of Wash Common.
“There are so many developments happening in our area that are going to be highly damaging, so if this one doesn’t go ahead that will be some cause for relief.”
Bewley Homes, which first put forward the Watermill Bridge plans in November 2021, has also reacted to the news of the statutory review going ahead.
Bewley’s head of strategic land Andy Morris said: “We are very surprised and disappointed about the council’s decision to lodge a judicial review at Watermill Bridge, based on the findings of the inspector at the appeal which set out very clearly why the overall benefits of the scheme outweighed the council’s decision to refuse consent.
“We are equally disappointed the High Court has decided to proceed with a statutory review of the inspector’s decision given the Secretary of State’s robust rebuttal.
“We will be supporting the Secretary of State leading up to and throughout the hearing.”
