A HIGH Court judge has dismissed a judicial review application challenging Waverley Borough Council’s decision to approve the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan.

On Tuesday, July 18, the judge, The Honourable Mrs Justice Lang handed down the judgment dismissing the legal challenge, brought by a consortium of developers, on all three grounds.

It comes after 88 per cent of voters - more than 10,000 people - backed the plan to help determine planning applications in the Farnham Town Council area in a referendum on May 4.

Julia Potts, leader of the borough council, said: “In May 2017 Waverley Borough Council held a referendum and asked the people of Farnham whether the plan should be adopted. They voted yes.

“We all recognise and understand the need for new homes.  Residents want to see appropriate development with supporting infrastructure, but in the places that are right for their community and Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans help to ensure appropriate development.

“This is a victory for the people of Farnham and its villages and for Farnham Town Council – this is their plan. Years of hard work have gone into getting the plan prepared and it has been robustly consulted on and reviewed by an independent inspector. 

“I am both delighted and disappointed: Delighted that the judge has dismissed the developers’ claims and that the plan can now be adopted and used to help the council decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area. However, I’m disappointed that the developers’ decided that a legal challenge was an appropriate course of action.

"It is reassuring that the Judge has awarded costs; Waverley and Farnham Town Council have had to use a lot of resources and public money to defend a democratic decision in the High Court.

“I hope these developers will now try to engage constructively with us for the good of the borough and its residents.”

Full story in this week’s Herald, on sale Thursday.