Peel starts High Court action over retail park

THE PEEL Group has taken its bid to overturn a ban on the expansion of Whitebirk Retail Park near Blackburn to the High Court in Manchester.

Peel wants to redevelop the park with new food and clothing stores but restrictions have been imposed on the site which prevent general A1 retail and only allow bulky goods to be sold, such as furniture.

In April Peel’s application for lawful development certificates (LDCs) seeking a change of use to A1 at some units was rejected by Hyndburn Council on the grounds that expansion could harm retail in Accrington and Blackburn.

Peel had argued that the granting of a string of previous permissions to alter the buildings meant they now had a new planning history and the original restrictions no longer applied.

Hyndburn’s original decision was upheld by a government planning inspector which prompted Peel’s High Court move.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw has accused the company of bullying Hyndburn Council and seeking to exploit legal loopholes to get its own way.

Peel says it wants to invest £16m in the site and create 250 jobs. The two-day hearing should conclude.