Cumbria calls time on judicial review challenge over local government reorganisation

Cumbria Council has decided not to pursue an appeal to the Court of Appeal over the Government’s proposed local government reorganisation for the area.

The local authority said the decision was taken “after careful consideration” and followed a decision by Mr Justice Fordham in the High Court on 22 February to refuse the council’s application for permission to proceed with its judicial review.

The judge handed down his reasoning after an oral hearing in Cumbria County Council), R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities [2022] EWHC 388 (Admin).

In July 2021 the then Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government (now titled the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities), Robert Jenrick, approved plans to split the county into two unitary authorities covering East and West Cumbria respectively.

The proposed East unitary council will cover the areas of Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland, and the West unitary will cover the areas of Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland.