Day: 16 January 2026

The Planning & Infrastructure Bill: Part 3 Amendments and the Rising Judicial Review Risk

by

The Planning & Infrastructure Bill represents one of the most significant overhauls of the UK planning regime in recent years. Part 3 of the Bill, which addresses long-standing environmental constraints on development, has been presented by government as a mechanism to unlock stalled housing and infrastructure schemes. Yet while the amendments promise to reduce costs and accelerate delivery, they also heighten the prospect of Judicial Review challenges. For developers, funders, and insurers alike, the stakes could not be higher.

Judicial Review Dismissed in Wimbledon Park Expansion: Key Legal and Planning Implications

by

On 21 July 2025, the High Court dismissed a high-profile judicial review challenge brought by Save Wimbledon Park Ltd against the Mayor of London. The case centred on the Mayor’s decision to grant planning permission for the expansion of the All England Lawn Tennis Ground (AELTG) across 39.7 hectares of Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), including the Wimbledon Park Golf Course.
Presided over by Mr Justice Saini, the judgment offers important insights into the interaction between planning decisions, legal constraints such as restrictive covenants, and the treatment of heritage and recreational land under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). For law firms advising developers, local authorities, or community groups, the case provides a timely and instructive precedent.