Planning bosses have hailed the Supreme Court’s appeal decision to throw out a retail part expansion calling it a ‘feather in the cap’ for Hyndburn.
The Observer reported last week how Peel Holding’s planning appeal for a £16m revamp of Whitebirk Retail Park was rejected by the country’s top judges.
The property giant wanted to overturn restrictions put in place by Hyndburn Council on what goods can be traded on the site, however bosses refused to relax the rules. Simon Prideaux, chief planning officer at Hyndburn Council, told a planning committee meeting last week that ‘great credit’ should be given to the committee.
He said: “We think this matter has now been drawn to a close.
“The Supreme Court is not wishing to entertain any further appeals and the decision has been upheld from the court of appeal last year.
“The borough council will now be able to claim its costs back from Peel.
“Credit must go to the planning committee as they took the original decision to refuse. The fact we held steady on that decision has proved to be the right one.”
Planning committee chairman Harry Grayson said it was an ‘excellent result’.
He told the meeting: “It seems that Blackburn with Darwen Council have taken all the credit when Hyndburn Council did all the work.
“It’s a feather in our cap so well done to Simon (Prideaux) and all the team.”
Former committee chairman Bernard Dawson added: “I chaired the original meeting a long while ago and I welcome this decision
“The amount of work that’s gone is substantial as it has gone from appeal to appeal.
“It would have affected both our town centre and Blackburn’s. This has been hanging over us for a long time.”
A spokesman for Peel Holdings said they were ‘naturally disappointed’ but will now seek to attract new retailers to the retail park and
work with the council in future.
