Walker Morris successfully defends judicial review of 10,000-home Gilston Area garden town scheme

Walker Morris represented client(s) East Herts Council in the successful defence of judicial review challenges to the Gilston Area garden town scheme. The matter concerned a multi-phase garden town project of approximately 10,000 dwellings. Following two High Court judgments in favour of the council, the Court of Appeal has confirmed that no further right of appeal will be granted. This outcome clears the way for the next stage of delivery, including the commencement of construction on the Central Stort Crossing, a key piece of transport infrastructure linking Hertfordshire to Essex, and the submission of masterplans for the first new villages. On-site construction is expected to begin in 2026/27. The scheme comprised some of the largest planning permissions granted in recent years and involved particular complexity owing to multiple phases, multiple ownerships and cross-boundary considerations. The grounds of the judicial review were extensive, addressing matters such as the council’s overall approach, environmental impact assessment for a multi-phase project, viability, heritage duties, alternative scheme options and local government constitutional points. The process also involved negotiation of a high-value planning agreement and robust defence of legal proceedings. At a time when the government has announced a new wave of new town projects, this outcome demonstrates Walker Morris’s experience advising on all stages of complex new settlement and garden town developments for a range of clients, including developer consortiums and government bodies. Walker Morris represented client(s) East Herts Council with a team composed by: Lee Gordon (Planning & Infrastructure Consents Partner) who led the team, supported by Josh Fraser (Senior Associate, Planning), Josh Kitson (Director, Planning), Chris Woodthorpe (Partner, Real Estate) and Helen Auden (Real Estate), alongside other specialists.

Walker Morris successfully defends judicial review of 10,000-home Gilston Area garden town scheme

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