Judicial review application over harbour regeneration plan fails

A judicial review application against Isle of Wight Council over planning permission it gave to what detractors called an "environmentally damaging" harbour development has been refused.

Bembridge Harbour Trust (BHT), which applied for the judicial review, said the judge ruled that there were insufficient grounds to challenge the application for houses and new facilities around the harbour.

Thirteen houses and a replacement of the harbour facilities will be built in Bembridge as part of the development.

The trust's challenge of the development was lodged in April 2021 and claimed the local authority's approach sacrificed harbour land to no genuine benefit for the harbour in return and was therefore unlawful.

BHT hoped that a successful challenge would lead to a new plan which would provide "genuine benefit to the harbour, and without harming the environment," according to an earlier statement announcing the move.

A second judicial review bid of the Bembridge Harbour Authority – launched by BHT – is also being considered by the court.

Adam Carey