Rajkiran Barhey and Lucy McCann appeared successfully, pro bono, on behalf of The Isleworth Society at a five day planning inquiry examining a proposal to build 80 flats on a site which has been used as allotments for over 100 years in Isleworth, West London.
On 11th December, the Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal brought by the landowner, Northumberland Estates, run by the Duke of Northumberland. The Inspector found that the proposal constituted an unacceptable loss of local open space. He also went further than a previous appeal decision concerning the site, to find that the proposal would also harm heritage assets, an issue which was only raised by the Isleworth Society.
Kiran and Lucy were instructed by Emma Montlake at the Environmental Law Foundation. Northumberland Estates were represented by Melissa Murphy KC of Landmark Chambers. London Borough of Hounslow was represented by Ed Grant of Cornerstone Barristers. The Park Road Allotments Association was represented by Claire Nevin of Francis Taylor Building.
Read more below:
Press coverage of the decision: BBC News, the Times, the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph
Press coverage of closing submissions: BBC News, the Independent, the Daily Mail, the Evening Standard
Press coverage of the hearings: the Guardian, the Independent, BBC News
