Hart DC v (1) Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (2) Luckmore Ltd., (3) Barratt Homes Ltd [2008] EWHC 1204 (Admin)

Hart District Council's unsuccessful High Court challenge to the Secretary of State's decision to grant planning permissions related to housing development involving a bespoke package of mitigation measures to ensure the proposals were not likely to cause significant damage to Hazeley Heath SSSI.

Natural England and Taylor Wimpey developments joined as interested parties in this case because of its general importance in establishing the right approach to appropriate assessment and Regulation 48 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1984.

Mary Cook led Asitha Ranatunga. This was the final chapter in a long saga in which Mary was instructed by Barton Willmore and Boyes Turner on behalf of Barratts and the landowner to help secure consent for housing in face of sustained opposition by Hart DC.