Charity gets green light for challenge to permission for 170-home scheme amid concerns over sewage works and river pollution

Charity WildFish has gained High Court permission for a judicial review of Buckinghamshire Council’s decision to allow 170 homes to be built at Maids Moreton because of concerns about river pollution.

WildFish, which campaigns for sustainable fish stocks, said development on this scale would overwhelm the local sewage works, which could lead to pollution spilling into the Great Ouse.

It said Buckingham sewage treatment works was already struggling to keep to its permit limits.

The Great Ouse, which flows to the south-east of the site, is failing environmental standards with a water framework directive status of ‘poor’.

Justin Neal, a solicitor at WildFish said: “This is a case which illustrates the real problem faced in England where planning permissions and approvals are made without proper consideration of the impacts on the environment.

“That includes the effect of putting extra burdens on an overwhelmed sewage system which leads to poorly treated sewage and sewage spills into rivers.”

Neal said the situation could worsen if the Planning and Infrastructure Bill becomes law and this would “sweep away whole swathes of regulation” which at present protect water courses.

Buckinghamshire Council has been contacted for comment.

Mark Smulian