Tewkesbury Borough Council loses fight to block 1,000 new homes in Bishop's Cleeve

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 1,000 new homes in Bishop's Cleeve will go ahead, after a High Court judge turned down an appeal to block the development.
Tewkesbury Borough Council has lost its fight to stop developer Comparo building a further 450 homes at Homelands Farm, and Welbeck Strategic Land creating 550 properties at Cleevelands.
The council went to the High Court for a judicial review in a bid to overturn a Government inspector's decision to grant permission for the developments. 
Both councillors and residents have opposed the developments because they believe they will put too much strain on services and existing infrastructure in Bishop's Cleeve.
However, after hearing the case at the Administrative Court in Birmingham on February 12 and 13, Mr Justice Males has decided to uphold the Government decision.
Commenting on the decision, borough council leader Councillor Robert Vines said: "What is clear is that the Localism Act has not delivered what was expected and suggested by the government when it was introduced, which was to remove top-down planning and to transfer power to communities."