Council recovers costs of planning officers in judicial review preparations

Barristers' chambers Francis Taylor Building said the issue had arisen in the case of R (Ayres) v. Cotswold District Council (CO/2353/2017), in which the unsuccessful claimant sought to challenge the quantum of the costs awarded in favour of the local planning authority at the ‘paper’ application stage.

John Howell QC, sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court, upheld the earlier decision and made clear that recoverable costs were not limited to those incurred by solicitors and counsel, it said.

Hereward Phillpot QC of Francis Taylor Building appeared on behalf of the defendant council. George Mackenzie from the same set appeared on behalf of the claimants, Mr and Mrs Ayres.