Source: http://richardbuxton.co.uk/transcripts/r-v-london-borough-bromley-exp-barker-0
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 13:25:23+00:00

Document:
LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY & Anor.
MR. ROBERT McCRACKEN and MR. JAMES PEREIRA (Instructed by Messrs. Richard Buxton, Cambridge CB1 1JX) appeared on behalf of the Applicant.
MR. GREGORY STONE Q.C. and MR. JAMES STRACHAN (Instructed by London Borough of Bromley Legal Department) appeared on behalf of the First Respondent.
MR. MATTHEW HORTON QC and MR. CHRISTOPHER BOYLE (Instructed by Messrs. Lawrence Graham) appeared on behalf of the Second Respondent.
Part 3. The history of the present proceedings.
to apply for judicial review.
the question of delay in her notice of application for permission?
the applicant's notice of application for permission.
application to set aside the permission.
outline planning permission and the approval of reserved matters.
may an environmental statement be required?
first respondent's decision of 6th May 1999.
the first respondent's decision of 6th May 1999.
3. These judicial review proceedings relate to a proposed development at Crystal Palace Park in South London. The applicant is a single parent with a young daughter, who lives very close to the development site. She is understandably concerned about the adverse effects of the development upon herself and her daughter. The first respondent is the owner of Crystal Palace Park and also the planning authority for the area. The second respondent is the developer.
4. In these proceedings the applicant seeks to attack two decisions made by the first respondent: first, a decision of 24th March 1998 to grant outline planning permission for the construction of leisure and recreational facilities in Crystal Palace Park; secondly, a decision of 6th May 1999 to approve detailed proposals submitted by the second respondent pursuant to the "reserved matters" procedure.
5. This litigation has a tortuous history. As a result, two issues are now before the court: first, whether the applicant's permission to apply for judicial review should be set aside; secondly, whether the applicant is entitled to the substantive relief which she seeks.
6. Part 2. The facts.
7. In 1851 the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations was held in London. It was attended by some six million people. The Exhibition Hall, which stood in Hyde Park, was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton. The design made extensive use of metal and glass, and it was at the forefront of modern technology in the mid-19th century. The Exhibition Hall was dubbed "Crystal Palace" by the press and this name passed into common parlance.
8. After the conclusion of the Great Exhibition, Crystal Palace was dismantled. It was re-erected in an enlarged form on an area of parkland at Sydenham in South London. The re-erection was again designed and supervised by Sir Joseph Paxton. The building retained its name, Crystal Palace, and indeed that name was also given to the park in which it was re-erected. The park slopes downwards from east to west. Paxton's building stood at the top of the slope, which is at the eastern end of the park. Unfortunately, in 1936 Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire.
(ii) for the emergency services; in respect of land within the Crystal Palace and Park."
"The principal building to be constructed in any development of the pink land consequent upon the provisions of this Act shall reflect the architectural style of the original Crystal Palace."
11. The "pink land" referred to in section 4 of the Act is the area at the top of the park, where the original Crystal Palace designed by Paxton had stood between 1854 and 1936.
"If a building is constructed in the implementation of the Bill, the Council as Planning Authority shall require that the building should contain a predominance of glass and metal or similar materials and that the building should reflect the spirit of the original Crystal Palace."
"Crystal Palace Park ... Possible Future Uses ... Hotel, leisure centre & associated facilities ... Justification ... To provide appropriate hotel and leisure facilities to meet growing demand and to improve the park's amenities."
14. The part of the park referred to was identified on a plan annexed to the unitary development plan. That was the top part of the park, the area where Paxton's building had stood.
15. A number of developers expressed interest in carrying out the development on Crystal Palace Park, referred to in the unitary development plan. One of these was London and Regional Properties Limited, which is the second respondent in these proceedings. On 25th July 1996 the first respondent selected the second respondent as the preferred developer.
16. Two months later, on 21st September 1996, Ms. Diane Barker (the applicant) moved to her present home, which is Flat D, 8 Anerley Hill, London SE19. Anerley Hill is a road which runs along the southern side of Crystal Palace Park. The applicant's home is towards the top of Anerley Hill and thus is close to that part of the park which was earmarked for the possible new development in section 4 of the 1990 Act and in the unitary development plan.
17. Quite soon after arriving at 8 Anerley Hill, the applicant gave birth to her daughter, Alexandra. The applicant states in her first statement (and I accept) that the applicant and her daughter have made much use of Crystal Palace Park in all seasons. Alexandra enjoys playing there.
18. On 27th March 1997, the second respondent submitted an application for outline planning permission to the first respondent. The second respondent's proposal was for the development of leisure and recreational facilities. The application was accompanied by a site plan and illustrative floor plans and elevations. The scheme was for a 20-screen cinema, large leisure areas, restaurants, cafes and extensive car parking, mainly at roof level.
19. The second respondent's planning application was duly advertised in the local press. Notices describing the planning application were placed in the vicinity of the proposed development site. The matter was discussed at numerous public meetings. Letters about the planning application were sent to local residents. Whether one of those letters was delivered to the applicant's address is in issue between the parties. It is not necessary to resolve that issue. I am satisfied that the applicant must have seen notices about the proposed development during her regular excursions into the park.
20. Opposition to the proposed development was rapidly mobilised. In May 1997 the applicant and many other local residents signed a petition expressing their opposition to the scheme. In due course a group of eco-warriors established a camp on the site of the proposed development. They remained there for a period of 11 months and expressed vociferous opposition to the respondents' plans. Another, more orderly, opposition group was known as the Crystal Palace Campaign. This was chaired by Mr. Philip Kolvin, a local resident and also a practising member of the Bar.
1. "A Movement Masterplan" prepared in 1997 by Messrs. Alan Baxter and Associates.
2. "A Transport Impact Assessment" prepared in April 1997 by the Graham Group.
3. A document entitled "A Crystal Palace Traffic Model" prepared by Messrs. W. S. Atkins.
4. A document entitled "Anerley Hill Access Arrangements" prepared by Messrs. W. S. P. Grahams.
5. A document entitled "Anerley Hill Access" dated January 1998 prepared by the Dennis Wilson Partnership.
6. "Highway Authority summary" prepared in July 1997 by the London Borough of Bromley.
7. "Planning Statement" dated July 1997 prepared by Messrs. Jones Lang Wootton.
8. A document entitled "Architect's Design Philosophy" dated September 1997 and prepared by Messrs. Ian Ritchie, who are and were a well-known firm of architects, who designed, amongst other things, the glazed pyramid above the Louvre in Paris.
9. A document entitled "Heritage Advice," a letter dated 8th May 1997 prepared by English Heritage.
10. "Architectural Advice" dated 22 May 1997 from the Royal Fine Arts Commission.
11. "Conservation Statement" dated June 1997 prepared by the London Borough of Bromley.
12. "Cinema Impact Statement" dated July 1997 prepared by Messrs. Jones Lang Wootton.
13. A report on acoustics dated July 1997 prepared by the Sharps Redmore Partnership.
15. A report prepared by Messrs. Chris Blandford Associates comprising environmental assessment advice.
"The proposed development on the site of the old Crystal Palace is unlikely to have significant environmental effects when tested against the criteria (in the Regulations).
Therefore, on balance, in considering the London and Regional proposal as an urban development project, it is unlikely to require a formal process of Environmental Assessment".
"01 (i)Details relating to the siting..design..appearance..access..landscaping shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority before any development is commenced. (ii) Application for approval of the details referred to in paragraph (i) above must be made not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of decision notice.
"03 The details submitted pursuant to condition 01 shall show, inter alia, a building with elevations of predominantly glass and metal and generally according with the illustrative elevations accompanying the application [Drawing No. PE4201 received 12.06.97] in all material respects, reflecting the spirit and architectural style of the original Crystal Palace at Sydenham, and in accordance with the terms of the Bromley London Borough Council (Crystal Palace) Act 1990 and other relevant legislation.
"05 The details submitted pursuant to condition 01 shall show, inter alia, means of pedestrian access to the southern part of the application site, and the approved access shall be provided before any part of the development hereby permitted is open to the public and be permanently available thereafter to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority.
"14 Before any work is commenced details of motorcycle spaces, bicycle stands and no more than 950 car park spaces in total and sufficient turning space shall be submitted to and approved in writing by or on behalf of the Local Planning Authority and such provision shall be completed before the commencement of the use of the land or building hereby permitted and shall thereafter be kept available for such use. No development whether permitted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any Order amending, revoking and re-enacting this Order) or not, shall be carried out on the land indicated or in such a position as to preclude vehicular access to the said land. At no time shall more than 950 car parking spaces be provided on site."
24. On 5th May 1998 a group of members of the Crystal Palace Campaign commenced judicial review proceedings in this court. They sought an order of certiorari to quash the decision of the London Borough of Bromley's development control committee dated 24th March 1998 to grant planning permission for a cinema and leisure development at the site of the former Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace Campaign also sought a declaration that construction of the building in accordance with the planning permission would be contrary to section 4 of the 1990 Act.
25. Mr. Kolvin took the lead in these proceedings and his name appears first on the notice of application. The Crystal Palace Campaign's notice of application was amended on three occasions. It took a number of points, but only two were seriously pursued. The first point was that the proposed development did not comply with section 4 of the 1990 Act and the proposed development did not reflect the architectural style of the original Crystal Palace, as designed by Paxton. The second point was that the proposed development made inadequate provision for car parking.
26. Crystal Palace Campaign's application for leave to apply for judicial review was dealt with at an oral hearing on 27th July 1998. Crystal Palace Campaign were represented by leading counsel. Sullivan J., who heard the application, concluded that both of Crystal Palace Campaign's grounds were doomed to fail and he refused leave. Crystal Palace Campaign appealed to the Court of Appeal. On 2nd September 1998 the Court of Appeal refused leave to apply for judicial review save on one ground, relating to section 4 of the Bromley London Borough Council (Crystal Palace) Act 1990. It reserved the substantive hearing to itself in the first instance. On 21st December 1998, the Court of Appeal dismissed the substantive application for judicial review. The House of Lords was petitioned for leave to appeal against the substantive decision of the Court of Appeal. The prospects of success for this petition were bleak. By a letter dated 14th June 1999, the House of Lords refused leave to appeal. On any realistic view of the matter, Crystal Palace Campaign's challenge to the outline planning permission came to an end on 21st December 1998, when the Court of Appeal gave its decision.
27. The second respondent asserts in affidavit evidence, which I accept, that from 21st December onwards it took the view that the outline planning permission could be relied upon. Since that date and in reliance on the outline planning permission the second respondent has incurred costs in relation to the development in the region of £1 million.
28. In early 1999 all parties turned their attention to the reserved matters. By the "reserved matters", I mean those matters which had been reserved for later approval by the terms of the outline planning permission. In January 1999, the second respondent submitted to the first respondent its plans and proposals in respect of most of the reserved matters. Mr. Kolvin corresponded with the first respondent on behalf of the Crystal Palace Campaign. He and his colleagues submitted detailed and well-prepared written representations as to why approval of the reserved matters should be withheld.
29. Other local groups also forcefully stated their objections. One of these groups was the Ridge Wildlife Group, who presented a petition to the mayor of Bromley on 26th April 1999, urging the first respondent to drop its development plans. The petition was signed by 13,619 people, one of whom was the applicant.
"Members will be aware that where an adopted development plan contains relevant policies, Section 54A of the Act requires that a planning application be determined in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. This approach to decision-making applies equally to the consideration of details pursuant to an outline permission.
"All material considerations relevant to the outline application were referred in the March 1998 report and taken into account by Members at that time. Matters of principle were considered at the outline stage. This current application deals with some of the reserved matters and certain of the details pursuant to conditions. It is not open to Members to 'revisit' the principle of the development when determining this application. Members can only deal with the details as submitted".
"...in my view you cannot use that as a justification for refusing to deal with the details tonight on their planning merits".
32. Finally, at the end of a thorough and lively debate, the development control committee unanimously resolved to approve the second respondent's proposals in respect of reserved matters.
33. Part 3. The history of the present proceedings.
34. On 16th June 1999 the applicant commenced the present proceedings. In her notice of application the applicant sought permission to apply for an order of certiorari, quashing the first respondent's decision of 6th May 1999 to approve the reserved matters.
"Judgment, order, decision or other proceeding in respect of which relief is sought and the date thereof.
"The decision on 6 May 1999 of the London Borough of Bromley ('the Council') (by its Development Control Committee) ('the Committee'), in respect of outline permission (9700858) for 'leisure and recreational facilities' and car parking at the Crystal Palace Metropolitan Open Space, to approve a scheme (99/00155/DETMAJ) of reserved matters including an 18 screen multiplex cinema with 4800 seats and 950 space car park."
"(1) An order of certiorari quashing the above decision ('the decision').
(ii) and/or misdirection of itself in law in deciding that it had no power to require environmental assessment in accordance with the requirements of the Directive ('EA').
(ii) alterations to the composition of uses proposed.
(ii) thereby and otherwise properly to consider whether or not to require environmental assessment in accordance with 85/337/EEC."
"14.5.2.2 Further and alternatively the outline consent was unlawful by reason of the failure of Bromley to direct itself on the law governing the relationship of outline consents to environmental assessment as declared by Mr. Justice Sullivan in R. v. Rochdale ex parte Tew et al CO/370/98. The description of the development was not, on his approach, sufficiently precise to permit of a proper decision as to whether it would be likely to have significant environmental effects.
to expect a lay citizen of modest means to be able to anticipate decisions of the Supreme Court involving the Court of Appeal and to hold that such grounds cannot be entertained because of delay. "15.8 The challenge is made within 6 weeks of the decision. The Applicant has pressed for the minutes of the decision to approve reserved matters. The Respondent has failed to supply even a draft of them."
38. In support of her notice of application the applicant lodged a witness statement dated 15th June 1999. In that statement the applicant said that her flat was very close to the proposed access point leading from Anerley Hill into the new development. She expressed concern about the effects of traffic upon herself and her daughter. She expressed concern about the loss of amenity, which would be caused by a major development in the park opposite her home.
39. The applicant's solicitor, Mr. Richard Buxton, also lodged a witness statement in support of the applicant's application. The statement was made by Ms. Susan Ring, an associate of Richard Buxton who had conduct of the matter. Ms. Ring stated that she had inspected the council's planning files on 8th June 1999. She said that none of the documents on file referred to a decision having been taken about whether an environmental assessment was required.
40. Ms. Ring also produced as an exhibit to her statement a number of documents relating to the outline planning permission of March 1998 and the approval of reserved matters in May 1999.
"You should be aware that the grant of outline planning permission for the same development was also the subject of challenge by the Crystal Palace Campaign and after hearings in the High Court and Court of Appeal, a petition to the House of Lords by the Campaign has recently been rejected. The leave application in the earlier set of proceedings was dealt with by means of an oral hearing at which the Council appeared. A request for expedition of the hearing was also granted following representations by the developer and supported by the Council. I understand that a similar application is again to be made by the developer and I would confirm the Council's endorsement of this action. The need to avoid delay is, of course, of even more importance than it was before the last set of proceedings were commenced.
"In view of the past history to the matter, it is also of considerable importance that the Council is given the opportunity to fully appraise the Court of the background to the application and that therefore a hearing is arranged in respect of theapplication.
"Whilst the Council will of course develop the argument at any hearing the Court should perhaps be aware at this stage that no 'letter before action' relating to all the grounds in the application was sent to the Council, neither has there been any attempt to comply with the spirit of the pre-action protocols in an attempt to avoid proceedings.
"I accordingly look forward to hearing from you with an expedited hearing date."
42. This letter was copied to the applicant's solicitor.
"We consider that for the purposes of showing an arguable case for the grant of permission, the application is quite clear as it stands, and it is not necessary for this to be referred to an oral hearing. While the earlier litigation may be interesting background, it does not affect the merits of this application.
"We have investigated the possibility of an oral hearing, of probably the same sort of length that would be required here, in another case involving a big development, and have been advised by you that it would be virtually impossible to have anything on this term. From a purely practical point of view the appropriate way forward therefore seems to be to ask a judge to consider the matter on paper as soon as possible."
"I have been faxed a copy of Richard Buxton's letter of 5th July 1999. I would like to make the Council's position clear, namely that it does not concede any of the points raised in the Form 86A and still feels that this matter can best be dealt with by an oral hearing. The Council views the earlier litigation as being of more than interesting background consisting as it does of a High Court decision and two Court of Appeal decisions on the same site as this application; and indeed will wish to refer to it during any hearing. Whilst we are keen for this matter to be heard as soon as practicable this does not override the consideration that the Court should hear detailed argument before reaching a decision as to whether or not permission should be granted".
45. In the event, no oral hearing was fixed. The application for permission was dealt with upon consideration of the documents. On 8th July 1999 Lightman J. granted to the applicant permission to apply for judicial review.
"1. In making her application for permission to apply for judicial review, the Applicant failed adequately to draw to the attention of the Learned Judge that the application was out of time in relation to one of the decisions under challenge, namely the grant of outline planning permission dated 26 March 1998.
2. The Applicant failed to apply for an extension of time to apply for Judicial Review in relation to the outline permission and failed adequately or at all to explain her reasons for the delay. In this respect she failed in her duty of utmost good faith and on full and frank disclosure. She also failed to draw to the Learned Judge's attention the previous unsuccessful application for Judicial Review made by the Crystal Palace Campaign.
3. The Applicant failed in her duty of full and frank disclosure and utmost good faith as to the extent of her knowledge of the grant of outline planning permission. The Applicant similarly failed to explain the relationship, if any, with the Crystal Palace Campaign, which had already unsuccessfully sought to challenge the outline permission."
47. Following the lodging of this application, the second respondent was joined as a party to the proceedings. The second respondent indicated its support for the first respondent's application to set aside.
48. The application to set aside was listed for hearing before Sullivan J. on 29th November 1999 with an estimated length of half a day to one day. That time estimate was manifestly insufficient and I do not know how it came to be given. In the circumstances, Sullivan J. adjourned the application to set aside, to be heard by the judge dealing with the substantive application for judicial review.
49. Accordingly, the application to set aside and the substantive judicial review proceedings were all brought before me at a hearing last week which started on Tuesday, 28th March and concluded on Friday, 31st March. The application to set aside was argued on Tuesday and Wednesday. At the end of that argument I stated my decision on the matter, leaving the reasons to be set out in the judgment at the end of the hearing. The substantive application for judicial review was argued on Thursday and Friday.
50. I now give a single judgment dealing both with the application to set aside and with the substantive judicial review proceedings.
51. Part 4. The duty upon a party seeking permission to apply for judicial review.
52. Most applications for permission are dealt with on an ex parte basis. Accordingly, the applicant is under a duty to place the material facts before the court and to identify clearly the issues which arise.
"What happens is that if there is a delay, either within the three months or over the three months, the applicant sets out in detail in his Form 86A that he is guilty of delay and he will also in his affidavit set out the reasons for it. That brings the matter clearly to the notice of the respondent and to the court. The court then, on an application for leave or where leave has been granted, will consider the question of delay."
54. Subject to one qualification (namely, that the question of delay must now be dealt with at the permission stage), I agree with this passage. It is my experience also that where judicial review proceedings raise an issue of delay, this is clearly identified in the notice of application for permission.
"Where an extension of time is necessary in which to apply for judicial review, there plainly is an obligation on counsel to apply for it. It is not enough that the Judge should have been shown a document that bore a date which, had he been alerted to the question of time limits, he would have realized rendered the document, and so attempts to challenge it, out of time."
"In seeking ex parte relief an applicant must disclose to the judge any fact known to him which might affect the judge's decision whether to grant relief or what relief to grant. It is no answer for an applicant who falls down on his duty to show that his breach of duty was committed in good faith and inadvertently, or to show that the relief would have been granted even had he complied with his duty. The courts have traditionally insisted on strict compliance with this rule, as affording essential protection to an absent defendant, and as applications for ex parte relief have multiplied so the importance of complying with this duty has grown."
57. In R. v. Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, ex parte A  2 W.L.R. 274 the applicant commenced judicial review proceedings 10 months after the decision complained of. Carnwath J. granted permission to the applicant to apply for judicial review, suggesting that the question of delay might be raised later. The House of Lords, however, held that the effect Carnwath J. giving permission was to extend time under Ord. 53 rule 4. That extension of time could not be reopened at the substantive hearing. It could only be challenged on an application to set aside the permission.
(1) If the application is made outside the time permitted by Ord. 53 rule 4, it is essential that all matters relevant to the question of extending time are set out clearly and fairly in the notice of application for permission. This is because the court is being asked to decide on an ex parte basis an important question which cannot be reconsidered at the substantive hearing.
(2) If the judge, on an ex parte basis, extends time under Ord. 53 rule 4 either expressly or by implication, and if he erred in doing so, that is a good ground for setting aside the permission. It is quite wrong that the respondent should be deprived of a defence based upon Ord. 53 rule 4 without having an opportunity to be heard.
59. Part 5. Did the applicant deal properly with the question of delay in her notice of application for permission?
60. The applicant seeks in these proceeding to attack two decisions: first, the grant of outline planning permission on 26th March 1998; and secondly, the approval of reserved matters on 6th May 1999.
61. The applicant issued her proceedings on 16th June 1999. That was 41 days after the decision of 6th May 1999 and some 15 months after the decision of 26th March 1998.
"An application for permission to apply for judicial review shall be made promptly and in any event within three months from the date when grounds for the application first arose unless the Court considers that there is good reason for extending the period within which the application shall be made."
63. Accordingly, it can be seen that the applicant's challenge to the decision of 6th May 1999 was made within time. Her challenge to the decision of 26th March 1998 was made grossly out of time.
(1) In the section on page 1 where the applicant identifies the decision under attack, only the decision 6th May 1999 is mentioned.
(2) The attack on the grant of outline planning permission dated 26th March 1998 is introduced in a low-key manner in paragraph 4 of the section headed "Relief".
(3) There is no application for a one-year extension of time pursuant to Ord. 53 rule 4 in respect of the challenge to the grant of outline planning permission.
(4) The grounds upon which a one-year extension of time is said to be justified are not apparent from the notice of application.
(5) Paragraph 15.8 of the notice of application (which is quoted in Part 3 of this judgment) is unsatisfactory. It glosses over the fact that the challenge to the grant of outline planning permission is grossly late.
65. In relation to the fourth of those five reasons, it is necessary to give some elaboration. The applicant relies on paragraph 15.7 of her notice of application (which is set out in Part 3 above) as containing the justification for an extension of time. I must confess that when I read paragraph 15.7 of the notice of application I simply did not understand the point which was being made. It became clear in the course of the hearing that neither of the respondents' counsel understood that paragraph either. When Mr. McCracken for the applicant came to make his oral submissions in response to the application to set aside, he explained to all of us what paragraph 15.7 meant. The phrase in that paragraph "decisions of the Supreme Court involving the Court of Appeal" is a reference to R. v. Newbury District Council and Newbury and District Agricultural Society, ex parte Chievely Parish Council  1 PLCR 51 and R. v. Rochdale M.B.C., ex parte Tew  Env.L.R. 1. The effect of these decisions is set out in the notice of application five pages earlier at paragraphs 14.5.2.1 and 14.5.2.2 (quoted in Part 3 of this judgment). These two cases, it is argued, break new ground. They provide for the first time a legal basis upon which the grant of outline planning permission could be challenged. Accordingly, time should be extended for the challenge to the grant of outline planning permission.
66. In my judgment paragraph 15.7 of the notice of application was deficient. It did not identify the judicial decisions referred to. It contained no cross-reference to paragraphs 14.5.2.1 and 14.5.2.2. It contained no assertion that prior to ex parte Tew and ex parte Chievely there was no foundation or less foundation for the attack upon the grant of outline planning permission.
67. A notice of application for permission is a free-standing document. It should be capable of comprehension without the need for lengthy oral explanation. This is all the more important in a case like the present, where the applicant is insistent that the question of permission should be considered on the papers.
68. For all these reasons my answer to the question posed in Part 5 of this judgment is "no".
69. Part 6. The respondents' further criticisms of the applicant's notice of application for permission.
70. These further criticisms are set out in the second half of ground 2 and in ground 3 of the respondents' notice of application (which was quoted in Part 3 of this judgment).
71. The first matter is the applicant's failure to draw attention to the previous judicial review proceedings. I do not need to go into this complaint, since the first respondent's letter dated 24th June 1999 drew attention to those proceedings. I think it probable that that letter was before Lightman J.
72. The second complaint is that the applicant failed to disclose the extent of her knowledge of the grant of outline planning permission. I reject this complaint. The applicant, like all interested local residents, must have been aware of the outline planning permission at about the time it was granted. She accepted that this was so in the course of the hearing last week. Paragraph 10 of the applicant's statement dated 15th June 1999, about which complaint is made, does not say otherwise. The point which the applicant was making in paragraph 10 was this. At the time outline planning permission was granted, the applicant did not appreciate that there would be access to the development off Anerley Hill, in the vicinity of her home.
73. I accept the applicant's evidence that she personally first became of aware of this matter in March 1999 (see paragraph 2 of her third witness statement).
"I am not now nor have I ever been a member of an organisation called, or with a similar name to, the Crystal Palace Campaign Group. I have had no involvement with the Crystal Palace Campaign's previous legal proceedings, either by myself or proxy."
75. There has been no application to cross-examine the applicant upon her statement. The respondent's counsel did, however, invite me to be suspicious of the applicant's evidence by reason of certain newspaper articles and other contemporaneous material. I have considered all the evidence relied upon by the respondents, but nevertheless I accept the applicant's evidence in the passage quoted above.
76. It can be seen from the factual summary in Part 2 of this judgment that prior to May 1999 the applicant's involvement in resisting the development was limited. In May 1997 she signed a petition opposing the outline planning application. In April 1999 the applicant signed the petition which the Ridge Wildlife Group presented to the mayor of Bromley. I am not at all surprised that the applicant, who lived immediately opposite the proposed development, thought it right to sign these two petitions. This fact does not cause me to doubt her evidence that she was not involved in the Crystal Palace Campaign.
77. For all the above reasons, I reject the complaints which are made in the second half of ground 2 and in ground 3 of the respondent's notice of application.
78. Part 7. Decision on the first respondent's application to set aside the permission.
79. For the reasons set out in Part 5 of this judgment, I have concluded that the applicant did not deal properly with the question of delay in her notice of application for permission to apply for judicial review.
(1) The application for permission was made nearly 15 months after the decision to grant outline planning permission.
(2) It is a long-established principle that there is a special need for expedition in respect of judicial review proceedings which challenge a planning decision. See, for example, the judgment of Laws J. (as he then was) in R. v. Cerrigydrudion County Council, ex parte McKeown  2 PLR 1 at pages 2 to 3.
(3) The justification for extending time as set out in paragraph 15.7 of the notice of application and as explained orally by Mr. McCracken is not a good one. The attack which the applicant seeks to mount upon the outline planning permission does not seem to me to be inspired by, or to be dependent upon, the decisions in ex parte Chievely or ex parte Tew. Furthermore, insofar as the applicant relies upon Part 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 and the "fundamental principles of European Community jurisprudence", none of this, in my view, should cause the court to overlook the applicant's long delay in commencing these proceedings.
(4) If the attack upon the outline planning permission proceeds, the second respondent will suffer significant prejudice. As set out in Part 2 above, the second respondent has incurred substantial expenditure in reliance on the outline planning permission.
(5) There has already been one set of judicial review proceedings challenging the grant of outline planning permission. In my view, the court should not, save in exceptional circumstances, allow successive judicial review proceedings to challenge the same decision upon different grounds. One consequence of the applicant's delay in the present case is that the opportunity has been lost to list Ms. Barker's application for judicial review at the same time as Crystal Palace Campaign's application. If successive judicial review proceedings are allowed, the drain upon court time is increased and the respondents incur additional costs.
81. I must now consider whether, in the exercise of my discretion, I should set aside the permission granted by Lightman J.
82. For the five reasons set out above, it seems to me quite inappropriate to extend time pursuant to Ord. 53 rule 4 of the Rules of the Supreme Court. However, the grant of planning permission by Lightman J., unless set aside, has the effect of granting such an extension of time (see the House of Lords decision in ex parte A, which is discussed in Part 4 of this judgment).
83. I therefore come to the conclusion, in the exercise of my discretion, that the permission granted by Lightman J. should be set aside, in so far as it enables the applicant to attack the grant of outline planning permission.
84. Part 8. The relationship between the grant of outline planning permission and the approval of reserved matters. The first topic which I must address in the substantive judicial review proceedings is the relationship between the grant of outline planning permission and the approval of reserved matters.
"Where an application is made to the local planning authority for outline planning permission, the authority may grant permission subject to a condition specifying reserved matters for the authority's subsequent approval."
(b) shall include such particulars, and be accompanied by such plans and drawings,as are necessary to deal with the matters reserved in the outline planning permission ..."
(e) landscaping of the site..."
88. Once outline permission has been granted, the developer has established his entitlement in principle to carry out the proposed development. That entitlement is not affected by subsequent changes in Government policy or by subsequent ministerial statements. The developer is entitled to expect that he will be able to secure approval for a reasonable detailed scheme, which is in line with the outline planning permission.
89. Part 9. At what stage in the planning process may an environmental statement be required?
"(1) Member States shall adopt all measures necessary to ensure that, before consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue inter alia, of their nature, size or location are made subject to an assessment with regard to their effects.
(2) The environmental impact assessment may be integrated into the existing procedures for consent to projects in the Member States ..."
the decision of the competent authority or authorities which entitles the developer to proceed with the project..."
"Projects of the classes listed in Annex II shall be made subject to an assessment, in accordance with Articles 5 to 10, where Member States consider that their characteristics so require.
To this end Member States may inter alia specify certain types of projects as being subject to an assessment or may establish the criteria and/or thresholds necessary to determine which of the projects of the classes listed in Annex II are to be subject to an assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10."
93. It is common ground that the building project in the present case, being an urban development project, falls within the classes listed in Annex II to the Directive.
'Schedule 2 application' means, subject to paragraph (2), an application for planning permission (other than an application made pursuant to section  or section ) for the carrying out of development of any description mentioned in Schedule 2, which is not exempt development and which would be likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location..."
95. It is common ground that the development in this case, being an urban development project, is of a description mentioned in Schedule 2 to the 1988 Regulations. Accordingly, if the development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location, then the second respondent's planning application would have been a "Schedule 2 application". On the other hand, if the development would not be likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location, then the second respondent's planning application would not have been a "Schedule 2 application".
96. Regulation 9.1 of the 1988 Regulations provides, in effect, that if a Schedule 2 application is made, the person seeking planning permission must submit an environmental statement. In brief summary, an environmental statement is a document which describes the proposed development and provides information about the environmental effects in an orderly and comprehensible form. Regulation 4(2) of the 1988 Regulations prohibits a planning authority from granting planning permission in respect of a Schedule 2 application, unless "they have first taken the environmental information into consideration [and state in their decision that they have done so]."
97. Upon a fair reading of the 1988 Regulations, it seems to me that the question of environmental assessment arises at the time when planning permission is granted and during the period leading up to that event. In cases where there is an outline planning permission, followed by approval of reserved matters, the stage at which an environmental assessment may be required is the stage of outline planning permission. If an application for outline planning permission is a Schedule 2 application, then the environmental assessment is carried out before the outline planning permission is granted. If the application is not a Schedule 2 application, it cannot retrospectively become one at the stage of approval of reserved matters.
98. If the 1988 Regulations are interpreted in this way, there does not appear to me to be any conflict with the provisions of the European Directive. As stated above, Article 2(2) of the European Directive expressly permits member states to integrate environmental impact assessments into their existing planning procedures. That is precisely what Parliament has done by enacting the 1988 Regulations.
"Once outline planning permission has been granted, the principle of the development is established. Even if significant adverse impacts are identified at the reserved matters stage, and it is then realised that mitigation measures will be inadequate, the local planning authority is powerless to prevent the development from proceeding."
100. In R. v. London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, ex parte CPRE (26th October 1999) the applicant sought in a number of ways to prevent an urban development project from proceeding. The applicant's first contention was that the grant of outline planning permission was invalid, because the question of environmental assessment had not been properly considered at that stage. The applicant's second contention was that the absence of an environmental assessment prepared at the proper time prevented the council from approving the reserved matters. The applicant's third contention is not relevant for present purposes. Richards J. refused the applicant permission to pursue its first contention, on the ground that proceedings were started out of time. Richards J. refused the applicant permission to pursue its second contention, because at the stage of reserved matters approval it was too late to say that an environmental assessment must be obtained; by then, the principle of the development had been established.
"The reserved matters approval: the Environmental Survey Argument.
"56. CPRE repeated and developed before us the proposition that the local authority was not lawfully entitled to proceed to consider the approval of reserved matters in the absence of an environmental survey.
"57. Primarily it is said that the Directive definition of 'development consent' in Article 1.2 (which I have quoted) implies, when effect is given to it in the context of English planning law, that the decision which 'entitles the developer to proceed with the project' is not the outline permission, but rather the final approval of reserved matters (or perhaps an amalgam of both stages). Thus, the argument runs, the obligation to consider the need for, and indeed to require, an environmental survey arises at (or again at) the reserved matters application stage, and was here disregarded.
"59. precondition of the development is the outline planning permission stage, without which it is a non-starter. That there are conditions subsequent which (if not resolved) may preclude the project does not have the effect of promoting the approval of reserved matters (if granted) to the status of entitling (that is to say, activating and enabling) decision.
60. I reach that conclusion not least in reliance upon the reasoning to like effect necessarily inherent in the speech in R. v. North Yorkshire County Council, ex parte Brown  2 WLR 452 from page 455 of Lord Hoffmann. There (in the context of a dispute concerning a distinctly different planning regime) he considered the meaning of the concept 'development consent' in the Directive. He draws a distinction (at page 458) between decisions which do, and those which do not, 'involve merely the detailed regulation of activities for which the principal consent, raising the substantial environmental issues, has already been given'. I would categorise the outline permission as the principal consent, and reserved matters as mere detailed regulation.
63. Upon that basis there is no room for CPRE's claim that the local authority should and could not proceed to approve reserved matters without considering whether under the 1988 Regulations an environmental survey was required. That being so, I take the same view as did Laws J (as he then was) in Greenpeace  Env.L.R. 415,. 424, where he said: '...a judicial review applicant must move against the substantive act or decision which is the real basis of his complaint. If, after that act has been done, he takes no steps but merely waits until something consequential and dependent upon it takes place and then challenges that, he runs the risk of being put out of court for being too late. ... It [the strict discipline imposed by the court] is marked by an insistence that applicants identify the real substance of their complaint and then act promptly, so as to ensure that the proper business of government and the reasonable interests of third parties are not overborne or unjustly prejudiced by litigation brought in circumstances where the point in question could have been exposed and adjudicated without unacceptable damage.'"
102. Mr. McCracken submits that this passage in the judgment of Singer J. is wrong and, accordingly, that I should not follow it (see paragraph 14.1.1 of his revised skeleton argument). Alternatively, he invites me to refer a number of questions to the European Court of Justice, as formulated at the end of his skeleton argument.
103. The first of the two courses urged by Mr. McCracken simply is not open to this court. The passage which I have quoted from the judgment of Singer J. forms part of the ratio of the Court of Appeal's decision. Swinton Thomas L.J. and May L.J. agreed with it. Therefore it is binding upon this court. Furthermore, it accords with the view which I have formed as to the correct interpretation of the 1988 Regulations.
104. Mr. McCracken places reliance on the House of Lords decision in R. v. North Yorkshire County Council, ex parte Brown  2 W.L.R. 452 and the Court of Appeal's decision in R. v. Durham County Council, ex parte Huddlestone (8th March 2000) (unreported). I have carefully considered those two decisions, both of which relate to the registration of dormant planning permissions to extract minerals. They are in no way inconsistent with the reasoning of the Court of Appeal in ex parte CPRE.
105. In relation to urban development projects, it seems to me that the 1988 Regulations have fully transposed into English law the requirements of the European Directive. Accordingly, I decline to refer to the European Court of Justice the questions which Mr. McCracken proposes.
106. For all the above reasons, my answer to the question posed in Part 9 of this judgment is as follows. In relation to an urban development project, the question whether an environmental assessment is required falls to be determined at the stage of outline planning permission. If the answer to that question is "yes", then the assessment must be carried out before outline planning permission is granted. At the stage of reserved matter approval, however, the question of requiring an environmental assessment does not arise. Either such an assessment already exists, or alternatively the planning authority must proceed upon the basis that no such assessment is required.
107. Part 10. The first ground of challenge to the first respondent's decision of 6th May 1999.
(ii) and/or misdirection of itself in law in deciding that it had no power to require environmental assessment in accordance with the requirements of the Directive..."
109. For the reasons set out in Part 9 of this judgment, I do not consider that the first respondent's decision was unlawful on either of these grounds. The first respondent was correct in its conclusion that the question whether an environmental assessment was required did not arise at that stage. That short proposition of law is a complete answer to this ground of challenge.
110. Nevertheless, I should refer to a topic which has been argued at some length in relation to this issue. That is the importance of the matters which, in March 1998, were reserved for later determination. Mr. McCracken submits that the outline planning permission was very general in its nature and major decisions fell to be made at the stage of reserved matters approval. Mr. Stone Q.C. for the first respondent and Mr. Horton Q.C. for the second respondent both submit the opposite.
(1) The outline planning permission defined the permitted development to a substantial extent. It determined the approximate size and the general design of the development. Furthermore, it permitted the access off Anerley Hill, a matter which is of particular concern to the applicant. In my opinion, the matters which were left to be resolved at the reserved matters stage can properly be characterised as matters of detail.
(2) The detailed proposals which the first respondent approved on 6th May 1999 accorded very closely with the scheme which was approved at outline planning permission stage. Such changes as were made could fairly be characterised as minor.
"Although the application was for outline permission only, this was on the basis of illustrative drawings as to floor plans and elevation as well as the uses in the scheme. The detailed design would be worked up after outline permission but it was virtually inconceivable that the overall design and appearance would alter, because of the parameters of the planning permission itself."
113. Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, I reject the applicant's challenge to the decision of 6th May 1999, based upon the failure to require or to consider requiring an environmental statement.
114. Part 11. The second ground of challenge to the first respondent's decision of 6th May 1999.
115. The second ground of challenge is that in approving the reserved matters the first respondent failed to have regard to (1) the Parliamentary statement made on 11th February 1999 by Mr. Richard Caborn, who was Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning, and (2) the Government White Paper on Transport (Command 3590) which was published in July 1998.
116. It will be noted that both the ministerial statement and the Government White Paper came into existence during the period between outline planning permission and the approval of reserved matters.
"Our policy on town centres, including retail and leisure development, is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 6: Town Centres and Retail Development (PPG6). This aims to sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of our existing town centres by focusing new investment, particularly for retail and leisure uses within city, town and district centres. This statement is intended to add to and clarify the guidance in PPG6 in the light of a number of issues raised in recent litigation which concern the interpretation of PPG6 and Government policy.
"PPG6 advises local planning authorities to adopt a positive, plan-led approach to handling planning applications involving new retail and leisure developments. It advises them, in preparing planning strategies and policies, to consider the need for new retail and leisure developments in the plan area over the lifetime of the plan. Having established that such need exists, local planning authorities should then adopt a sequential approach (as explained in PPG6) to identify suitable sites. If there is no need for further developments, there will be no requirement to identify additional sites.
"Proposals for new retail and leisure development which accord with an up-to-date plan strategy or are proposed on sites within an existing centre, should not be required to demonstrate that they satisfy the test of need because this should have been taken into account in the development plan.
are in accordance with the development plan but that plan is out of date, is inconsistent with national planning policy guidance, or otherwise fails to establish adequately the need for new retail and leisure development and other development to which PPG6 applies, should be required to demonstrate both the need for additional facilities and that a sequential approach has been applied in selecting the location or the site."
"4.158 Our overall approach to planning is aimed at containing the dispersal of development so reducing the need to travel and improving access to jobs, leisure and services. We want to promote regional strategies for planning that are integrated and sustainable and we want these to provide the context for local transport plans and development plans.
"4.163. We will update existing guidance on locations for major growth and travel generating uses, with an increased emphasis on accessibility to jobs, leisure and services by foot, bicycle and public transport. This will include the promotion of major development within public transport corridors and other areas where good public transport exists or can be provided. We have research in hand to provide practical advice for local authorities so that their proposals for growth along public transport corridors are brought forward in ways that support sustainable development.
"5.51. This White Paper signals a new direction for transport in which everyone must play a part if we are to succeed. Many of the changes can start immediately, and, as we have illustrated in the examples of good practice, much can be achieved without the need for legislation. Over the longer term, new sources of funding will provide a further impetus to these reforms."
119. I now come to the crucial question, which is this: should the first respondent have specifically had regard to the ministerial statement and/or the White Paper on Transport when considering the reserved matters on 6th May 1999?
120. Approaching this question initially as one of principle, my answer is "no". Following the grant of outline planning permission, the second respondent was entitled to expect that it would be able to secure approval for a reasonable detailed scheme, which was in line with the outline planning permission. Any changes in Government policy after March 1998 would not constitute a good reason to detract from that which was approved in the outline planning permission. It would not be proper for the first respondent to use the reserved matters procedure, in effect, to vary the planning permission previously granted. See Part 8 of this judgment and also the speech of Lord Morris in Kingsway Investment Limited v. Kent County Council  A.C. 72 at 96.
"As you know, we looked at the proposals for the site of the former Crystal Palace at the outline planning stage in 1997. After careful consideration, we decided not to intervene. Bromley then granted outline planning permission on 26 March 1998. Now that the principle of the development has been established, the Borough are considering the details of the scheme, the 'reserved matters', together with new applications for associated works.
"It would be very unusual to intervene now that this stage in the planning process has been reached. Nonetheless we have looked at the matters now before Bromley. We have found them to be in line with the outline permission for the scheme and concluded that all the strategic issues have already been taken into account."
122. The phrase in that letter "strategic issues" is a reference to the various Government policies to which the local authority ought to have regard.
123. The next point to note about the Parliamentary statement is this. Proposals for new retail and leisure development, which accord with an up-to-date plan strategy, fall outside the ambit of the statement (see paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Parliamentary statement). In the case of Crystal Palace, the proposed development accorded with the unitary development plan (see Part 2 of this judgment). Accordingly, the Parliamentary statement was not germane to the debate about reserved matters, which was held on 6th May 1999.
124. In my judgment, it would not have been proper for the first respondent at the reserved matters stage to reduce the size of the development referred in the outline planning permission, by reason of Mr. Caborn's ministerial statement. Nor did that statement provide any justification for reducing the number of car park spaces (namely 950) referred to in condition 14 of the outline planning permission.
"The publication of PPG13 (the planning policy guidance note on Transport) in England in 1994 was a major step towards planning land uses and transport together. It aimed to reduce the need to travel, especially by car, and to encourage means of travel which are more environmentally friendly."
126. I have read and reread the passages in the White Paper upon which the applicant relies. To my mind, there is nothing in those passages which made it inappropriate to approve the provision of 950 car parking spaces in the Crystal Palace development. Furthermore, this White Paper contains nothing to suggest that the development as a whole should be reduced in size.
127. Accordingly, I reject the applicant's challenge to the decision of 6th May 1999 based upon the ministerial statement and the White Paper.
1. The permission granted by Lightman J. to apply for judicial review be set aside.
2. The applicant be permitted to apply for judicial review to the following limited extent. The applicant is permitted to apply for the first three items of relief sought in her Form 86A. The applicant is not permitted to apply for the fourth item of relief sought in her Form 86A.
3. For the avoidance of doubt, the applicant is not permitted to advance at the substantive hearing any argument to the effect that the outline planning permission granted by the first respondent to the second respondent on 26th March 1998 is unlawful or invalid.
130. This is the order which I indicated that I would make halfway through the hearing, after the conclusion of argument in relation to the application to set aside.
131. In relation to the substantive judicial review proceedings, the applicant's application must be dismissed for the reasons set out in Parts 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of this judgment. Accordingly, the applicant's claim for judicial review is dismissed.
132. This has been a lengthy judgment. I have delivered it orally today, because this is a case in which there has already been substantial delay. It was more important for the parties to receive an oral judgment promptly after the hearing than to wait for a further period of time until a typed-up judgment could be handed down.
133. MR. HUTTON: My Lord, there is one brief point that I am asked to raise. I understand there have been dates tentatively agreed for submissions on costs on 17th April.
135. I said last time was that the parties should endeavour to agree consequential matters. If they cannot agree or if they already know they are going to be unable to agree, then there must be a further hearing for such matters to be resolved, and the date for that hearing is to be agreed by the clerks to the respective counsel with my clerk.
136. MR. HUTTON: I am obliged.
137. MR. JUSTICE JACKSON: The sooner discussions begin the better.
138. MR. BOYLE: My Lord, Christopher Boyle for the second respondent. My Lord, I understand there have been discussions already between the parties and 17th April has been put forward as a suggested date for that hearing into consequential matters.
139. MR. JUSTICE JACKSON: I am sorry. You are both ahead of me.
140. I was unaware of the discussion.
142. I may, I would ask your Lordship to consider sitting at 10 o'clock on that date for counsel's convenience. Some parties have business elsewhere later in the day. Secondly, rather than raise it now with your Lordship, there are a number of minor factual matters which perhaps could do with correction in the body of your Lordship's judgment. If, between now and then, the parties are able to agree those, we can put them to your Lordship and they can be incorporated so there is no error on the record.
144. I am perfectly happy to sit at 10 o'clock if that suits the parties. It is the case that everybody is agreed on 17th April?
145. MR. BOYLE: As I understand it, my Lord, yes.
146. MR. JUSTICE JACKSON: As to the second point, I think it inevitable that in a judgment of the length of the one in this case, there will be clerical errors and slips and such like. It is desirable that I deal with these when checking the transcript. May I propose that all parties send a note to me within the next day or so identifying any slips which they have spotted in the judgment and I will take those matters into account when correcting the transcript.
147. MR. WALKER: For the avoidance of doubt, my Lord, will consideration of leave to appeal be included in those matters on 17th April?
149. dealt with then, rather than today?
150. MR. WALKER: Yes indeed, my Lord.
151. MR. JUSTICE JACKSON: Very well. What I will say is that questions of costs, leave to appeal and any other consequential matters to be dealt with at the hearing on 17th April. Is there anything else? Thank you all very much.

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