New Planning Court within the High Court

Spring has sprung and I have been thankful for the recent pleasant weather whilst out on site wearing my alternative “Planning Inspector” hat.

This is not really a blog but more a general update to those in the planning sphere. With effect from 6 April 2014 the civil procedure rules have been changed to provide for a new Planning Court within the High Court. The new Planning Court will replace the planning fast track in the Administrative Court (introduced in July 2013) and the change has been made in an attempt by the government to streamline planning judicial review cases.

The Planning Court will hear planning-related judicial reviews and statutory challenges, including claims relating to: Planning permissions, other development consents and the enforcement of planning control. EU environmental legislation and domestic transpositions, including assessments for development consents, habitats, waste and pollution control. National, regional or other planning policy documents, statutory or otherwise.

The reminder to practitioners: all planning-related judicial reviews and statutory challenges issued after 6 April 2014 should be issued in the Planning Court. For those planning cases issued before 6 April 2014 they will be transferred to the Planning Court from the same date.