Foxhill Residents Victorious

20 June 2018

Foxhill residents have won their judicial review against the council, meaning outline planning permission to knock down the estate has been overturned.

Last summer, Curo were awarded planning permission to knock down 542 homes in Foxhill, which would have resulted in the loss of 98 social houses. The plans led to a community movement in opposition to the development, spearheaded by Nola Edwards.

Wera arranged a series of three meetings between senior management and the campaigners before Christmas, to bring the two sides together and find common ground.

Curo then backed down from their plans at the beginning of 2018, verbally agreeing not to pursue the development.

Meanwhile, residents were mounting a legal case against the council, arguing that the council had not fulfilled their legal obligations during the planning process.

The judge said that the council “did not have due regard to the impact on the elderly and disabled persons” of Foxhill when they gave Curo the go ahead to a plan that “might lead to the demolition of their homes”.

The planning permission is now legally null and void, marking a victorious end to the campaign to Save Foxhill.

Wera said:

"This is brilliant news. I'm ecstatic for everyone who lives on the estate; they no longer have to live with the threat of wide spread demolition hanging over them. It's deeply worrying that the council did not fulfil their legal obligations in a decision that affected so many people, and they will have to look very seriously at their procedures moving forward. I've spent a significant amount of time with residents in Fox Hill working on this, and I'm moved by their community spirit and love of the area. I'm glad the they will see many more happy years there!"