The WLR Daily case summaries
[2024] WLR(D) 447
Court of Appeal
Rex (Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site Ltd and another) v Secretary of State for Transport
[2024] EWCA Civ 1227
2024 July 15, 16, 17; Oct 16
Sir Keith Lindblom SPT, Stuart-Smith, Lewis LJJ
Planning— Development consent— World Heritage Site— Strategic highways company applying for development consent order for nationally significant infrastructure project affecting World Heritage Site— Statutory expert panel recommending refusal of consent— Secretary of State granting development consent order— Whether redetermination decision unlawful— Whether procedural fairness required inquisitorial process— Whether Secretary of State could lawfully make decision while relying on officials in carrying out analysis of evidence or data relating to consideration and summarising analysis— Whether tenability approach in interpreting unincorporated international obligations lawful— Whether Secretary of State’s approval of scheme breaching the United Kingdom’s international obligations under the World Heritage Convention—
Planning Act 2008 (c 29), s 104
—
Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010
(SI 2010/103), r 20
—
National Policy Statement for National Networks, paras 5.131–5.134
—
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), arts 4, 5