On 22 June 2021, Stepaside and Pleasant Valley Residents Group (SPVRG) won High Court approval to challenge a PCC planning permission at the Heritage Park, Pleasant Valley, Stepaside.

Back in March 1987, a planning permission was granted at the Heritage Park site in Pleasant Valley. In order to overcome local residents’ opposition to over-development of the site, it restricted caravans to the south of the site. It changed the use of the north to car parking only, extinguishing all rights for tents and caravans. A separate legal agreement was also signed, confirming this change, and binding over all future owners of the site to comply.

Unfortunately, PCC mislaid all these records from 1987 and so in 2016 they wrongly granted permission for 29 caravans in the north of the site.

Since January this year SPVRG has made repeated requests to PCC regarding the planning permissions relating to the Stepaside Industrial Heritage Project from the 1980s. Finally, PCC found the mislaid 1987 details on 11 May 2021.

However, two weeks later, on 27 May 2021, PCC proceeded to grant permission for even larger caravans in the north of the site without considering either of the rediscovered 1987 planning permission or legal agreement.

We used the money we raised earlier this year to finance a Judicial Review action. On 22 June 2021 the High Court in Cardiff, overruling PCC’s objections, granted permission for SPVRG to challenge the 2021 permission for failing to take account of the 1987 events and for six other reasons.

SPVRG had also asked the Court to consider quashing the 2016 decision at last week’s hearing, but the judge refused because it was 5 years since the decision was made.

About SPVRG

SPVRG is a residents group representing the interests of some 300 supporters, acting solely to protect our rural community from over-expansion of the caravan site, and further desecration of an area of natural beauty and historical interest.

SPVRG has no financial interest in this matter. It faces potential legal costs in excess of £20,000, Please visit spvrg.wales to register as a supporter