A PARISH council looks set to join forces with a protest group taking its fight against homes in Hampshire countryside back to the High Court.

Botley Parish Council has applied to be part of a judicial review examining Eastleigh Borough Council's decision to back plans for 1,400 homes at Boorley Green, near Botley, alongside the Botley Parish Action Group (BPAG).

This comes after the resident-funded pressure group succeeded in persuading the Court of Appeal that its case should go back to the High Court for judicial review, now been set for November 28.

But Botley Parish Council’s application to join the action would see them landed with a hefty legal bill of up to £10,000 between the parties should the review fail.

The parish council had been listed as an interested party in the original appeal, but stepped back during subsequent court hearings to allow the process to continue without being held up by council procedure.

But Colin Mercer, chairman of Botley Parish Council, said a survey of residents indicated that 98 per cent were in favour of a judicial review.

“It’s the most significant thing that’s happened in Botley in the way of planning issues for centuries,” he said.

“We consider it a small risk and well worth the money. We believe it’s the right thing to do."

Mr Mercer was not willing to disclose how much the action would cost the council, which has an annual turnover of around £200,000.

Daily Echo:

Botley Parish Council chairman Colin Mercer

The court action has been brought by BPAG who argue that it was unfair for Eastleigh Borough Council to use the fact that it had failed to ensure a five-year supply of land for development or have a current Local Plan in place in time to justify its decision to grant the homes plans.

It also argued the council had breached European law over environmental impact assessments and that other sites are more sustainable.

Botley Parish Action Group is fighting the development over fears that it would increase traffic, overwhelm Boorley Green and change the character of Botley.

The plans were given the green light despite a mass rally through the streets of Botley last year.

Although Eastleigh council leader Keith House says that the new homes would bring more facilities to Boorley Green and protect other areas from development, BPAG argues its survey found the majority of residents who responded did not want these extra services at the expense of the housing.