SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has issued legal proceedings to challenge a recent planning decision.

The council is intervening to challenge the Planning Inspector’s decision regarding land north of the Wotton Road development in Charfield.

Following an inquiry relating to Barratt Homes’ planning application for the site, the Planning Inspector allowed their appeal and granted permission for the residential development to include 121 homes, a retail unit, associated open space, access, and infrastructure.

The council has issued the challenge, considering the granting of permission would undermine the Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) process and its impact upon the residents and communities of South Gloucestershire.

Leader of the Council Cllr Toby Savage said: “As a Council Administration, we are determined to take robust action to challenging unsustainable development across the district.

“Where we have taken difficult decisions to plan for future housing and jobs growth, we should not have decisions from the Planning Inspectorate which undermines this work as it only stores up economic, social and environmental problems for the future.

“We are clear that enough is enough and we mean it. This unprecedented second legal challenge is evidence of our strong approach and considering each case on its individual merits.”

Cabinet Member for Planning Cllr Colin Hunt said: “While we appreciate that we have a short fall on our five-year land supply, nonetheless we want decisions to reflect that we have a solid plan that was prepared in consultation with the public.

“It is not appropriate for Charfield and other locations in the area to be under attack from speculative developers in this way, who are seeking to circumvent the plan-led system and community engagement in a manner which undermines the recently-submitted JSP.”

Simon Gilbert, development director at Barratt Homes said: "Barratt Homes is committed to delivering new homes to meet the current shortfall in South Gloucestershire. We maintain our view – and that of the Planning Inspector – that our proposals present a viable and sustainable plan for a new community.

"We are hopeful that this legal challenge will not slow down the delivery of these much-needed new homes."