Parish wins permission for legal challenge over siting of primary school

A parish council has gained permission to take Suffolk County Council to judicial review over the siting of a proposed school near to a US air force base.

Lakenheath Parish Council argues that while the 420-place primary school is needed the proposed location is too close to the base - named RAF Lakenheath despite its use by the US.

The parish council said children would be educated directly under a military jet flightpath were the site in Station Road used.

Hermione Brown, chair of the parish’s planning subcommittee, said the order made by John Howell QC, sitting as a deputy Planning Court judge related to a failure by Suffolk to properly consider environmental impacts by breaching regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011.

The judge also granted the parish council a protective costs order limiting exposure to adverse costs to £15,000 on the basis the matter is an environmental claim.

A Suffolk spokesperson, said: “The county council considers the judicial review claim is misconceived.

“The new school has been designed to be suitable for use in Lakenheath, taking into account site specific concerns including noise. The new school will provide sufficient places for pupils arising from proposed housing developments in the local area, to meet expected local needs. The proposed location for the school is shown by official figures to be in the quietest part of the village.”

Suffolk would continue to oppose the parish council’s case, the statement added.

Mark Smulian