Campaigners secure permission for judicial review of permission for holiday village

Permission for a judicial review has been granted on renewal over a project on Anglesey where the developer claims to possess planning permission valid “in perpetuity”.

Developer Land and Lakes wants to build a holiday village at Penrhos, but objectors have said this would damage the Penrhos Nature Reserve which is home to rare flora and fauna including badgers, bats and red squirrels.

They said Land and Lakes’ planning application contravened 11 Welsh planning policies, but was granted by Isle of Anglesey County Council.

The council had asked the court to double the objectors’ court fees on the basis “we are a 'grassroots campaign' we can fundraise. It makes one question are they afraid we will win”, a statement on their Just Giving page said.

An Anglesey Council spokesperson said, “In his order, HHJ Harman KC stated that the financial evidence shows modest personal assets and crowdfunding of £43,000 which exceeds the estimate of costs.

“Having regard to the personal assets in addition it is appropriate to raise the cap to £10,000.

“Having raised a further £15,000 through crowdfunding, at the High Court on the 27th February, the claimant withdrew its challenge to the costs and the judge noted this was a wise decision.”

A Land and Lakes statement said: “An effective start to the development at Penrhos was made in 2021, which means the planning permission for the site is now held in perpetuity.

“Full-scale development has been paused as we wait for the current challenges in the UK economy to ease. Further updates will be made available in 2024.”

Mark Smulian