Council defeats High Court challenge over playing fields site for primary school

The High Court has dismissed a legal challenge to Reading Borough Council’s approval of a playing fields site for a primary school.

The case was brought by the Mapledurham Playing Fields Action Group.

A spokesperson for Reading said: “It was always the council’s intention to defend its position robustly on this matter and we are pleased that the judge dismissed the application on all four grounds submitted. The council notes the judge has additionally dismissed the claimants’ request for leave to appeal. 

“Reading Borough Council is pleased that the case has been dealt with swiftly by the courts, which was the council’s preference, so that the Education and Funding Agency’s planning application to build a new primary school on a small part of Mapledurham Playing Fields can be progressed in order to meet local demand for school places.”