London borough nets permission for judicial review over 514-home scheme allowed by Mayor

The council said the grant of permission for the legal challenge meant  that the High Court was satisfied that the council had an arguable case.

The hearing of the case in the High Court is expected to take place later this year.

Hillingdon originally refused the planning application from Inland Homes in March 2020 due to concerns about the inappropriate scale of the development, which includes buildings up to 12 storeys, and its impact on the surrounding area. 

However, Sadiq Khan exercised his right to call in the planning application and determine it himself.

During a virtual hearing in September 2020, he conditionally approved the plans, pending legal agreements. He gave final approval on 29 March 2021.

In May Hillingdon said it was seeking a judicial review “on the grounds that the scale of the planned development is not appropriate for the area, and because the council does not think full and proper consideration has been given to the air quality impacts at the site, which is next to the A40”.

The council added that it believed the Mayor acted unlawfully by not publicly reconsidering the application after he was directed to update the tall buildings policy in the London Plan by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in December 2020.

The Mayor also failed to act in accordance with the strict requirements of the London Plan, which now contains a clear policy against tall buildings in areas that councils deem inappropriate and emphasises the key role of boroughs in determining where tall buildings should be located,” Hillingdon said.