High Court gives green light to judicial review over permission for warehouse parks on farmland

North Northamptonshire Council approved the park, to be built on greenfield land north of Halden's Parkway Industrial Estate in Thrapston, in July 2025.

However, campaign group STAUNCH believe the warehouse park will "destroy irreplaceable habitats, flood resilience zones, and some of the UK’s best farmland.”

Making formal objections to the ‘Glebe Land’ plans, the group contended that the proposal conflicts with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), “in that applications should be determined in accordance with approved Development Plans unless material considerations indicate otherwise. No such compelling case has been made or indeed argued.”

According to the group, the High Court has now granted permission to proceed with a judicial review, with arguments to be heard across a two-day hearing.

Kevin Shapland, Chair of the STAUNCH Campaign said: “STAUNCH are delighted that the High Court has seen our application for judicial review worthy of progression to a full hearing. In addition to North Northamptonshire Council, we believe that an increasing number of local authorities are failing to consider their duty as competent authorities to address the legal responsibilities under the Habitats Regulations 2017.

“We hope this will be an important step forward in correcting such omissions.”

A spokesperson for North Northamptonshire Council said: “The council has been notified that STAUNCH have been given approval to apply for judicial review and that there is to be a two-day hearing. The council now has 35 days to consider any grounds we may wish to submit to contest the claim. As this matter is subject to legal proceedings it would not be appropriate for us to comment further.”

Lottie Winson