Mead Realisations Ltd v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Subject Matter

PLANNING — Development — Flood risk area — Inspector refusing outline planning permission for residential development — Whether inspector erring in application of sequential test in relation to flood risk — Whether Planning Practice Guidance having same legal status as national policy — Whether inspector bound by Planning Practice Guidance — National Planning Policy Framework (2021), paras 11, 162, 166

[2024] EWHC 279 (Admin); [2024] PTSR 1093; [2024] WLR(D) 90, KBD

PLANNING — Development — Flood risk area — Inspector refusing outline planning permission for residential development on ground it failed “sequential test” under national planning policy read together with guidance — Whether other sites with lower flood risk “reasonably available” — Whether guidance amending or elucidating national policy — National Planning Policy Framework (2021), para 162 — Planning Practice Guidance (2022), para 7-028

[2025] EWCA Civ 32; [2025] PTSR 1158; [2025] WLR(D) 76, CA

Appellate History