Boris Johnson’s Building Revolution Survives Court Review

(Bloomberg) -- The U.K. won a legal challenge brought by activists over claims that new planning regulations break environmental and equality laws.

A London court decision turned down an application for judicial review brought by Rights: Community: Action. The ruling means changes introduced by the government’s housing department over the summer, which form part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan for an “infrastructure revolution,” will go ahead.

A spokesperson for the housing department welcomed the judgment. It “reflects the decisive action we have taken to support our economy and deliver much-needed new homes,” the department said in an emailed statement.

The measures include ways to make it easier to turn unused buildings into homes and re-purpose shops.

“Although the court recognized the very significant environment impact that these changes will have, it has reached a conclusion on the technical requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive that puts these changes outside the scope of the kind of plans or programs that require assessments,” lawyer Tom Short, who represents the environmental-campaign group, said by email.

The court deemed these new permanent set of laws justifiable given the current economic emergency caused by Covid-19, the group said in a statement. It intends to appeal the ruling.

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