The campaign to halt the £120 million redevelopment of Gravesend’s Heritage Quarter has had its day at the High Court.

Civic group Urban Gravesham is taking on Gravesham Council over its decision to approve developer Edinburgh House’s plans to radically overhaul St Andrew’s Gardens and the Eastern and Western quarters.

Mr Justice Lewis granted the group a judicial review in August - a type of hearing which allows for planning decisions to be challenged on the basis proper procedure may not have been followed.

The Heritage Quarter plans were given the go ahead by a single casting vote at a contentious regulatory board meeting in April last year, and were subsequently rubber-stamped by council service manager Clive Gilbert.

Urban Gravesham were represented by James Findlay QC at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London for the one-and-a-half day hearing on Thursday and Friday (October 30-31).

He put forward their arguments for why the plans should be sent back to the council’s regulatory board for a fresh hearing, which the group hopes would reverse its original decision to approve the scheme.

On Thursday around 10 members of Urban Gravesham attended a packed court 19, while a similar-sized delegation from Gravesham Council and Edinburgh House included council deputy leader and lead member for planning and the environment Councillor Lee Croxton.

Mr Justice Ouseley heard Mr Findlay put his client’s case, arguing Mr Gilbert did not have the authority to approve the development in April this year without referring it back to the regulatory board.

Urban Gravesham claims there was a "legitimate expectation" Mr Gilbert would do so once a Section 106 agreement had been signed with Edinburgh House, guaranteeing £6.6 million investment in infrastructure to support the redevelopment.

The group also argues that changes in circumstances between the planning approval being granted and then re-approved a year later by Mr Gilbert, mean the decision should be looked at again.

These include a reduction in the amount of Section 106 funding compared to previous expectations, and Bluewater’s subsequent decision to expand and its likely affect on the viability of the Heritage Quarter scheme.

Gravesham Council argue Mr Gilbert was exercising legitimate authority delegated to him by the regulatory board and that there was no “legitimate expectation” he would refer the decision back.

The authority also claims any changes in circumstances were not significant enough for the scheme to be put to another regulatory board vote.

Mr Justice Ouseley has yet to decide whether any of Urban Gravesham's claims should be upheld, meaning a fresh planning hearing could take place, and has said he will report "in due course".

An Urban Gravesham spokesman said the group had been "overwhelmed by the response to our appeal for support in our legal challenge to the Heritage Quarter development. “

"Thousands of pounds have been raised towards our legal costs from donations by ordinary Gravesenders and we have been inundated with letters and messages of support from local people."

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