R (Plant) -v- Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council
This was a case where Community Law Partnership represented Mr Plant. The challenge to the decision to take eviction action against his unauthorised encampment was unsuccessful.
Lee -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Runnymede Borough Council
Lee -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Runnymede Borough Council [2016] EWCA Civ 558, 17 June 2016
This was an appeal to the Court of Appeal concerning a refusal of planning permission for a Gypsy and Traveller site. Marc Willers of Garden Court Chambers represented the Appellant.
R (Dartford Borough Council) -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (SSCLG)
R (Dartford Borough Council) -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (SSCLG) [2016] EWHC 635 (Admin), 21 January 2016
This application for planning permission for a Gypsy and Traveller site concerned land in the curtilage of a farmhouse. The Planning Inspector granted planning permission.
R (XY) -v- Maidstone Borough Council and Smith
R (XY) -v- Maidstone Borough Council and Smith [2016] EWHC 1436 (Admin), 17 June 2016
This was a challenge by a local resident to a grant of planning permission. There were five grounds of challenge and one of them succeeded.
R (Eastwood) -v- The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
R (Eastwood) – v – the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead [2016] EWCA Civ 437, 10 May 2016
In this case, applications for permanent and temporary planning permission for a Gypsy/Traveller site in the Green Belt were refused but 18 months was given for compliance.
Winterstein -v- France
Winterstein and Others -v- France (application no. 27013/07)
The applicants are 25 French nationals acting on their own behalf and on behalf of their minor children.
Thurrock Borough Council -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Ward
Thurrock Borough Council – v – Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Ward [2016] EWHC 200 (Admin) 09 February 2016
A Planning Inspector granted Mr Ward planning permission for a temporary period for a Gypsy site in the Green Belt.
R (O’Brien) – v – South Cambridgeshire Council and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
R (O’Brien) – v – South Cambridgeshire Council and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2016] EWHC 36 (Admin), 22 January 2016
This case involved applications for retrospective planning permission. Localism Act 2011 Section 123 amends Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by adding a new Section 70C which reads as follows:-
R (VC) v North Somerset Council (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) CO/3801/2015
This claim concerned a challenge brought by an Irish Traveller to a “local connection” requirement contained within North Somerset Council’s housing allocations scheme, which had been extended beyond Part VI Housing Act 1996 allocations to cover Gypsy/Traveller site allocations. The effect of that requirement was that the Claimant, who could not point to a local connection to North Somerset, was denied entry to the Council’s housing register.
Connors -v- Forest of Dean DC
Connors v Forest of Dean DC, Bristol County Court, Recorder Blunt QC
Ms Connors is an Irish Traveller with 5 children, 2 of whom are disabled owing to a lung condition and hearing impairments. She had travelled all her life except for a short period in which she lived in a house. In June 2014 she had to leave a Traveller site in Stroud and relocated to the Forest of Dean District Council (‘FoD’) area.