Campaigners against the development of land at Abbotts Farm in Paulton and Boxbury Hill in Midsomer Norton, have spoken of their complete dismay as a High Court Judge has ruled the Government must now reconsider the Planning Inspector’s decision.

It was ruled through a further appeal by the developer, Edward Ware Homes, that the Planning Inspector had wrongly considered issues not covered during the inquiry, resulting in a ‘material prejudice’ against the developer. The original appeal was dismissed by the Planning Inspector last May, having previously been refused by B&NES Council. The judge, Mr Justice Holgate, has now ruled that the two sites will have to be looked at again.

Speaking this week, Paulton Ward Councillors, Liz Hardman and John Bull (Labour) said: “Just as we were all thinking that the Boxbury Hill and Abbotts Farm developments were a thing of the past, we have now been shocked to hear the results of a Judicial Review brought by Edward Ware Homes against the results of an inquiry held over a year ago. It is unbelievable.

“Our local residents will expect us to once again fight these unwanted developments. We have opposed both of these applications from the outset, both at B&NES Planning meetings and at the Inquiry. Local people do not want to see ‘A Midsomer Paulton’, which will happen if these developments get the go-ahead. Our local schools and infrastructure cannot cope with even more homes. We are prepared to fight these developments all the way.”

The Chair of the Midsomer Norton Town Council Planning Committee, which has also been against the plans, added: “The Town Council understands that the developer and landowners will be entitled to have their appeal reconsidered as a result of the Judicial Review, which seems to have been allowed on a technicality.

“It seems unlikely that there would be any reason for the Council to do anything but maintain its strong support of Paulton Parish Council’s objection to the Boxbury Hill development for the numerous reasons the Town Council’s Planning Committee submitted at the time, and at the subsequent hearing.”

The planning applications were for 124 homes at Boxbury Hill, thought of as a green buffer between Paulton and Midsomer Norton and overlooked by the historic batch; which saw both Paulton Parish Council and Midsomer Norton Town Council speak out in unity – and 47 homes at Abbotts Farm Close, Paulton. Both Midsomer Norton and Paulton have taken large amounts of housing in recent years, with big developments pending at Charlton Park and Monger Lane.

Edward Ware Homes won a controversial appeal at Greenlands Road, Peasedown St John, in June 2014, however, the developer then sold the land to Curo in March 2015.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Edward Ware is also waiting for a decision from the Secretary of State for another proposal in Bishop Sutton.