Legal challenge to Port Meadow buildings

The Oxford branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) announced at a meeting on April 24 at Freuds that is mounting a legal challenge to the decision to give planning permission for the university accommodation blocks that suddenly appeared alongside Port Meadow. The basis for the challenge is that there was no environmental impact assessment carried out for building residential accomodation on what is likely to be highly contaminated ground. Had such an assessment been carried out it would not only have given an indication of the contamination risk but also highlighted the disastrous visual impact of the proposed buildings. CPRE have taken advice which indicates that this would be the only legal basis for a challenge against this development which is close to completion. Were this ultimately successful, this would mean that the University would have to apply for retrospective planning permission, this time in the full glare of public and media attention. Previously, there was scarcely any public consultation. The Jericho Community Association, for example, was not consulted. The legal costs for such a challenge, despite the help of pro bono lawyer, have been estimated at around £50,000 for which CPRE is urgently seeking donations. Donations can be made online through the Save Port Meadow campaign.