Jones v Wrexham County Borough Council & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 1603 (20 December 2024)

Jones v Wrexham County Borough Council & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 1603 (20 December 2024)

Section 67(1) and (2) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 confer a conditional power, not a duty, on a local planning authority in Wales to adopt a Local Development Plan following an Inspector's recommendation. The authority retains discretion whether to adopt the plan, though it may only do so in the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2024] EWCA Civ 1603
Parties
Appellant: Marc Jones; First Respondent: Wrexham County Borough Council; Second Respondent: The Welsh Ministers; Third Respondent: BDW Trading Limited; Fourth Respondent: Bloor Homes Limited; Fifth Respondent: Redrow Homes Limited; Sixth Respondent: Harworth Estates Investments Limited; Seventh Respondent: Russell Homes (UK) Limited; Eighth Respondent: Castle Green Homes Limited; Ninth Respondent: SG Estates Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
20 December 2024
Procedural Posture
Appeal (civil) / Court of Appeal Judgment
Outcome
Appeal allowed
Legal Topics
Statutory Interpretation, Development Plans, Local Development Plan Adoption, Judicial Review, Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
Administrative Law Planning Law Local Government Law Statutory Interpretation Development Plans Local Development Plan Adoption Judicial Review Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 12 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Marc Jones

Appellant

Wrexham County Borough Council

First Respondent

The Welsh Ministers

Second Respondent

BDW Trading Limited

Third Respondent

Bloor Homes Limited

Fourth Respondent

Redrow Homes Limited

Fifth Respondent

Harworth Estates Investments Limited

Sixth Respondent

Russell Homes (UK) Limited

Seventh Respondent

Castle Green Homes Limited

Eighth Respondent

SG Estates Limited

Ninth Respondent

Procedural Posture

Appeal (civil) / Court of Appeal Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether section 67 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 imposes a duty or confers a discretion on a local planning authority to adopt a Local Development Plan if recommended by an Inspector
  2. 2 Interpretation of 'may' in section 67(1) and (2) of the PCPA 2004 in the Welsh planning context

Ratio Decidendi

Section 67(1) and (2) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 confer a conditional power, not a duty, on a local planning authority in Wales to adopt a Local Development Plan following an Inspector's recommendation. The authority retains discretion whether to adopt the plan, though it may only do so in the form recommended by the Inspector. The statutory language, context, and scheme do not support the implication of a mandatory obligation to adopt. The High Court's contrary interpretation was incorrect.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed

Orders

  • High Court order quashed
  • Local planning authority not under a duty to adopt the Local Development Plan solely because of an Inspector's recommendation