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No eco joy

05 February 2009
Issue: 7355 / Categories: Legal News
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Judicial review

A legal challenge to the government’s plans for ecotowns has failed in the high court.

The Bard Campaign, a group set up to oppose plans for an eco-town at Stratfordupon- Avon’s Long Marston site, brought a judicial review, claiming the government had failed to consult properly before short-listing 15 sites for development, and should have carried out a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) at an earlier stage.

However, Mr Justice Walker held that the government consultation, Eco-towns Living a Greener Future, published in April 2008, was lawful, and that an SEA was not required at that stage. Simon Ricketts, head of SJ Berwin’s planning and environmental group, who acted for Bard, said his client was likely to apply for leave to appeal. 

Issue: 7355 / Categories: Legal News
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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