Barton Farm homes scheme expected to go ahead, says developer

Cala has welcomed Pickles's decision to sign the consent order and said it now expects the scheme to go ahead.  The consent order means that the judicial review hearing will no longer take place and the decision will go back to the SoS for redetermination.

Cala had challenged the SoS's refusal to grant planning permission for its application for the housing development on greenfield land at Barton Farm in Winchester.

In its challenge Cala claimed that the SoS's refusal to grant planning permission, against the recommendation of his planning inspector and his conclusions on policy and housing supply, incorrectly interpreted planning law on seven separate counts.

The Communities Secretary refused planning permission for the development scheme, reasoning that the Council’s emerging core strategy and consultation needed time to develop.

Granting approval "would be likely to undermine the work currently being carried out in Winchester to establish a new bottom-up housing strategy," the SoS said in his decision letter.

Cala was due to argue ‘prematurity’ in its latest challenge, stating that the SoS's decision afforded too much weight to the emerging core strategy for Winchester, at the expense of existing plans.

"We are pleased the secretary of state has decided to reconsider his decision on Barton Farm and hopefully this process will be completed quickly and positively so that the much needed housing provision can be delivered as soon as possible," said a Cala spokesperson.