Barton Farm High Court decision still in the balance (From Daily Echo)

Barton Farm High Court decision still in the balance

10:50am Thursday 4th November 2010 in Barton Farm By Warwick Payne

IT will be at least another week before the result of the Barton Farm High Court challenge is known, developers revealed.

However, one thing that has been decided is where to hold the upcoming public inquiry that will decide the greenfield site’s future.

Winchester Guildhall will be the setting for the eight-day hearing, which is due to start on February 8 next year.

Cala Homes, which wants to build 2,000 properties at Barton Farm, is hoping to strengthen its case ahead of the inquiry.

It went to the High Court last month (October) to challenge the Coalition Government’s decision to scrap regional planning targets.

The firm argued that they must remain until Westminster approves another policy to take their place.

The targets called for 12,000 homes in the Winchester district by 2026, which put Barton Farm under renewed pressure.

Campaigners hoping to protect the farmland north of Winchester hope that the Government’s decision to shelve the targets will help their cause.

Around 20 of them protested outside the High Court joined by the city’s MP, Steve Brine, who is also against the scheme.

After the hearing on Friday, October 22, Cala said it hoped to receive a decision within days rather than weeks.

However, seven days after the case was heard, the firm said it was less hopeful of a quick decision.

Last Friday (October 29), a Cala spokeswoman said: “We have not yet received a judgement. We are expecting to know the outcome of the case in around two weeks - this is to allow further submissions to be filed.”

Both sides have pledged to fight on until next year’s public inquiry, whatever the High Court result may be.