Includes ‘A victory for protesters’ by Nick Stylianou, specialist producer, in court.
A victory for protesters
Despite the carefully chosen words by the leader of Epping Forest District Council on the steps of the High Court that this was about residents contacting him to overturn a breach of planning law, anti-migrant protesters will see this as a victory for their demonstrations across the country this summer.
The fact that the Home Office was not allowed to intervene in a case directly related to the home secretary’s duties to house asylum seekers will fuel the enthusiasm of political opponents in local councils.
Yvette Cooper is now under “acute pressure” to find suitable accommodation, government lawyers said.
But the UK’s towns and cities have deliberately diverse and varied planning constraints, so Tuesday’s result may not be so easy to replicate.
In Great Yarmouth, for example, there is a specific provision to ensure a hostel is not allowed on its waterfront.
In Tuesday’s court hearing, the barrister for Epping District Council advised ministers to look at property already held by them, where government-owned land is substantially exempt from many planning laws, suggesting instead ‘a portacabin on the Crown Estate’.
Expect to hear that a lot inside and outside courtrooms in the coming months.