National Park costs judgement boosts Bluestone Appeal bid

17 January 2005 

A "public interest judgment" in the High Court today (17 January) (1) has boosted the prospects of the Council for National Parks (CNP) (2) in its battle against the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to prevent a so-called "holiday village" from desecrating the Park's countryside.

On 17 December Mr Justice Jack held that the decision (3) to grant permission for the Bluestone development - comprising 340 timber lodges, a brand new "village", sports club and sewage-treatment works - was lawful. 

But CNP has now been told by the judge that it will not have to pay the legal costs of the Park Authority.  Welcoming the decision, Ruth Chambers, CNP's Head of Policy, said: "CNP had presented arguments to the judge that the challenge made to the Bluestone planning decision was in the 'public interest'.  The judge has accepted this and has also taken CNP's charitable status into account in making no order for costs in respect of the developer or the National Park Authority.  We warmly welcome the judge's decision on costs, which is a trail blazing decision for all those fighting for better access to the legal justice system.

"We are now in the process of preparing an application for leave to appeal to present to the Court of Appeal and believe that this has a good chance of being successful because of the wider public interest that the judgment has generated because of the judge's interpretation of planning law".

Notes to Editors

1.              The judgment by Mr Justice Jack on costs was handed down on 17 January 2005 at the Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, London.

2.              CNP is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England and Wales, and areas that merit National Park status, and promote understanding and quiet enjoyment of them for the benefit of all.

3.              The Park Authority's development control committee approved the outline planning application on 28 January 2004. 

Contact: Ruth Chambers (07769 676 397) or Ralph Underhill (020 7924 4077 x 232)

For press queries please contact:
Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
020 7924 4077 ext. 222