Council loses High Court fight to stop 290 new homes in Telford

The council embarked on a legal fight to overturn a Government's Planning Inspector's decision to permit a new estate on Haygate Fields.

But at a hearing today, it found it was not successful and building could now go ahead on the land by Wellington Cricket Club, off Haygate Road.

Following the judgement being handed by the High Court in London the council said it will need to consider the judgement in details, but said it is "disappointed" with the outcome.

A statement said: "Of course we respect the decision of the High Court but we are very disappointed with this outcome.

"Telford is the fastest growing town in the West Midlands and we continue to more than pull our weight in building houses to address the national housing crisis.

"However, there are some places where we believe that development is not appropriate and this was one of those sites.

"We will need to consider the judgement in details but we are worried that the Government is putting national targets ahead of local choice and we call on our local MPs to make sure that the borough's 'development in the right place' stance is heard and respected in Westminster.

"We are satisfied that we tried hard to get this decision overturned on behalf of our residents.

"The judge commented on 'excellent' submissions that were made on behalf of the council."

In April inspector David Wildsmith upheld an appeal by Gladman Developments against the council's decision to refuse planning permission for the homes on Haygate Fields.

Outline planning permission was initially granted by the council but planning chiefs ordered it to be looked at again, claiming Telford already had enough housing either already built or in the pipeline for the next five years.

The developer lodged an appeal with the national Planning Inspectorate, claiming the council had taken too long to make a decision.

The developer will now be able to go ahead with the plans, which had been much contested by residents.

People living on Haygate Road formed a group called the Haygate Fields Appeal and even raised money to have a barrister represent them and their views during the initial inquiry, which was held at the Whitehouse Hotel in February.

Hundreds of people had signed petitions to try to stop the development going ahead at the site, which is near to the town's cricket club and known to locals as Haygate Fields.

The decision to launch a High Court challenge was also opposed by Tories on the council who say money spent on the legal fight would be better off being used on under-pressure services.