THE High Court has refused an appeal by a Kendal property developer in the latest chapter in the Natland Mill Beck Lane homes saga.

Oakmere Homes’ application to build 26 dwellings off the road, first put forward in 2016, had been rejected three times by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) before an appeal was dismissed by the planning inspector in August 2019.

However, in October it was announced the developer had appealed to the High Court over the planning inspector’s decision.

But an SLDC spokesman said a judge had now “refused permission for a statutory review of the appeal decision.”

Doug Rathbone, district councillor for the Kendal South and Natland Ward, described the news as “absolutely brilliant”.

Cllr Rathbone, who was involved in the campaign against the proposed development, paid tribute to the large number of people who formally put forward objections to the build. He felt these objections had successfully impacted the wider planning process.

“What’s great about it is that the views of not only local residents in the area but Kendal residents as a whole who frequently use the cut through - their views have been taken into account and what would have been a destruction of one of the great ‘green lungs’ of Kendal has been stopped,” he said.

Cllr Jonathan Brook, SLDC portfolio holder for housing and innovation, said: “The developer was challenging the council’s position on its housing land supply.

“A robust housing land supply underpins the Local Plan policies we use to deliver social and environmental values - such as affordable housing and accessible housing - and safeguarding environmental assets and the rich heritage of our area.

“It is therefore pleasing that the planning inspector’s confirmation of the council’s five-year land supply has now been upheld by a High Court judge, and important Local Plan policies are not weakened.’’

Oakmere Homes, the head office of which is in Kendal, declined to comment.