It is appealing the judgement in a bid to save an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) near Dover. CPRE Kent had argued that the judicial review judge had been wrong to conclude that the application to build 521 houses and a 90 home retirement village complied with planning law.
An appeal court judge has now said that its arguments over mitigation to the AONB “raise an arguable point which has real prospects of success.”
CPRE Kent chairman Christine Drury said: “This is great news – we have been determined to save this beautiful area of countryside. The harm to the AONB cannot be justified and we are heartened that the judge has agreed to our appeal on this important point.”
CPRE Kent said that Dover District Council planning officers had criticised the density and layout of the scheme and recognised that it would have significant adverse impact on the AONB, but tha councillors agreed to the proposals without any mitigation measures.
“CPRE Kent, Natural England, the Kent Downs AONB Unit and the National Trust all opposed the decision and it is astounding that the case was not called in by the Secretary of State despite the strongest recommendations from his advisors,” said a statement from CPRE Kent.
The Court of Appeal hearing could be some months away.
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