BATTLE lines were being redrawn this week, after it was confirmed appeals will be lodged over the decision to quash planning permission to turn Cherkley Court into a luxury hotel and golf course.
Both developers Longshot and Mole Valley District Council announced their intention to challenge the Mr Justice Haddon-Cave's verdict, which overturned the district council's decision to allow development on the 375-acre site in Leatherhead Advertiser.
Reporter Alexander Robertson heard from went interested parties on both sides about to get their view on the appeal announcement and what they hope the future holds.
The case for
MOLE Valley District Council and developers Longshot will both lodge applications to appeal the decision to quash planning permission, after seeking legal advice. Speaking on behalf of the District council chief executive Yvonne Rees said: "This is the most complex planning application Mole Valley District Council has ever had to consider. "After carefully reviewing the decision documents, and having taken external legal advice, Mole Valley District Council considers that the judge's decision is flawed and will make an application to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal. Suspended "Work on the site has been suspended while the appeal process is followed, which may take several months." Longshot spokesman Nick Kilby added: "Longshot believes that the judge's decision is seriously flawed and has sought the advice of leading planning QC, Christopher Katkowski, and leading planning law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner." Tim Hellier, head of planning at Berwin Leighton Paisner, said: "We feel entirely let down by the judicial system. Our legal team, including the country's leading planning QC, remain of the view that the decision of the council to grant planning permission is robust, lawful and correct." Mr Katkowski added: "I am strongly of the view that the judge has reached a flawed decision here. I am confident that the Court of Appeal would overturn the decision." World-class Longshot spokesman Joel Cadbury said: "Our overall plan remains unchanged – we are determined to fulfil the commitments made in our original planning application, which included ongoing public access, 190 new jobs and the building of a world-class facility. I believe that we have demonstrated, with the works carried out to date, that our commitment to quality and our promises on the environment will be fulfilled. "The majority of Mole Valley residents support us and we will deliver a product that Mole Valley can be proud of."
The case against
OPPONENTS to Longshot's plans for Cherkley Court have said appealing the Mr Justice Haddon-Cave's decision to quash planning permission would be "scandalous" and a "waste of money". Speaking to the Advertiser, campaigner Kristina Kenworthy said: "I think the appeal is an obtuse and risky strategy for a council of a predominantly rural and beautiful district. "Where is the public interest in supporting Mayfair developers who want an exclusive private club in a county already awash with golf courses? Indefensible "Who calls the shots at Mole Valley and why are they now, in the words of the High Court judge, continuing to defend the indefensible?" Andy Smith, director of the Surrey branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said he was "extremely disappointed" that Mole Valley Council would appeal. "This is an appalling waste of local taxpayers' money," he added. "The High Court last month blocked the Cherkley development and overturned the council's decision because, as the judge made clear, the council had made a fundamentally flawed decision. "The judge called the council's reasoning 'perverse' and said their decision showed the council had merely paid lip-service to green belt policy. "The judgment itself is well worth reading as it is a systematic demolition of Mole Valley Council's decision-making on Cherkley." He continued: "That should have been the end of the story. "For Mole Valley council and the developers to come back now and commit to spending tens of thousands of pounds of public money on stringing this out into a long legal tussle is, frankly, scandalous. "The council should accept the judgment of the High Court and acknowledge that giving planning permission to the developers to wreck the Cherkley estate was a grave error. "We do not want yet another golf course in Surrey and we do not want more of our precious green belt and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty sacrificed to make way for a luxury 'leisure resort'. "The wildflower meadows, woodland and farmland of the Leatherhead Downs are worth protecting and conserving."