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Judicial review into giant warehouse dismissed

Dawid Wojtowicz/ BBC A drone shot of the incomplete warehouse - a grey structure that stretches across the frame several metres in front of a housing estate. The estate backs directly onto the warehouse land.Dawid Wojtowicz/ BBC
Residents of Hooke Close in Corby took their case to the High Court after they discovered a warehouse being built next to their homes

A High Court judge has rejected a judicial review into the construction of a giant warehouse close to homes but criticised a council over a string of planning errors.

The case was brought by residents of Hooke Close in Corby after North Northamptonshire Council approved the warehouse after consulting the wrong street.

Judge Mrs Justice Lang ruled that while the council had "fallen well below the standard to be expected", the claim was not brought within a sufficient time.

Georgie Wallis, resident and lead applicant in the review, said the application was made because of "a complete failure to consult residents".

Permission for the development was granted by the council in 2022, but it was only after residents complained about the 60ft (18m) metal structure being built next to their homes that the council realised an error.

Planning officers had sent notices to Hubble Road, which is about half a mile (800m) from the site, instead of Hooke Close.

Planning notices were also placed on the wrong lampposts.

An internal review earlier this year found the decision to grant planning permission for the development on the former Weetabix factory site did not comply with law.

After work began last year, residents took their case to the High Court in London to appeal against the decision.

Kate Bradbrook/BBC The corrugated metal structure of the warehouse can be seen looming over the top of a resident of Hooke Close's hedge next to their property. The resident's black car is also in shot by a red brick house.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
An internal review found that the decision to approve the development did not comply with law

'Strong public interest'

The judge said that while the claimant had a "good reason" for the initial delay in starting proceedings – because the council failed to send consultation letters - they "unreasonably delayed" filing the claim for a judicial review for a further three months.

Despite rejecting the application, the judge said there was a "strong public interest in the competent and lawful processing of planning applications by local planning authorities".

She added the council had "fallen well below the standard to be expected" but its "willingness to investigate its failings" was "encouraging".

Council leader Jason Smithers welcomed the court's decision and said lessons would be learned from the mistakes.

"We have gone through a full and thorough internal investigation to help us learn from this case and a planning improvement board has been established as part of this process," he said.

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