A COURT of Appeal ruling has formally ended the legal challenge to the Gilston Area’s outline planning permission, unlocking the next stage of delivery for this major part of Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

The challenge, brought by the owners of Hunsdon House, sought to overturn the council’s grant of outline planning permissions for the development, which includes 10,000 new homes alongside new infrastructure, including two new secondary schools and up to six primary schools, employment space, leisure opportunities and community facilities.

After two separate High Court judgments upheld the council’s position, the Court of Appeal has now confirmed that no further right of appeal will be granted. Legal guidance was provided to East Herts Council by Walker Morris and FTB Chambers.

With the legal process concluded, the project team can now press ahead. Preparatory work already underway on site will now accelerate, with the immediate next steps including the start of construction on the Central Stort Crossing – a vital piece of transport infrastructure that will improve access into and out of Harlow for current and future residents.

Masterplans for the first new villages that will form the neighbourhoods of the Gilston Area will also be submitted in the coming months. On-site construction of the villages is expected to begin in 2026/27.

Councillor Vicky Glover-Ward, Executive Member for Planning and Growth, said: “While excellent work has continued behind the scenes, I’m very pleased that our success in all stages of the legal challenge now unlocks a major phase of delivery.

“We remain committed to working closely with existing residents through the Gilston Community Forum and masterplanning workshops. Their involvement is essential in shaping this area’s future, ensuring the Gilston development brings real benefits to both new and established communities.

“We’ll also be working alongside the applicants to help ensure the proposals are delivered to the high quality expected for this important site.”

Lee Gordon, Partner in Planning & Infrastructure Consents at Walker Morris, said: “This outcome marks a significant step forward for the Gilston Area and the wider Garden Town vision. It follows a huge amount of hard work with officers at East Herts Council and its partners over a lengthy period to help ensure robust decision-making processes in determining the hugely significant planning applications. The scale of the proposals gave rise to a wide range of complex points which are of relevance to the delivery of multi-phase garden town developments. We’re delighted the courts have endorsed the approaches taken, to have helped successfully defend the Council’s decisions from legal challenge and that the project can now progress without further delay.

“This development represents a significant opportunity to deliver much-needed homes, infrastructure, and community facilities, and we look forward to seeing the next stages progress.”

A transcript of the High Court ruling from 19 September can be found here.