Challenge to pet crematorium, Cotswolds

We were instructed to challenge the grant of planning permission to use an agricultural field as a pet cemetery at a site that was already being used for animal cremation. The site was in a prominent position within the Cotswolds AONB and there were concerns from local residents about the visual impact and increased traffic on local country lanes.

The Grounds of Challenge were (1) that the Council failed to apply paragraph 176 of the National Planning Policy Framework by failing to give “great weight” to conserving and enhancing the AONB or to weigh the harm to the character of the AONB (identified by the planning officer) against any purported benefits of the scheme; (2) that the Planning Committee was misled as to the correct interpretation and application of key policies; (3) and that the Council failed to provide adequate reasons for its decision.

Permission was granted to apply for Judicial Review in December 2021 and following that the Council and Interested Party consented to the approval being quashed.

Counsel were Philippa Jackson and Jake Thorold.