Council Won’t Challenge Prison Go-Ahead Decision

Harborough District Council will not challenge the decision to allow a massive new prison to be built near Market Harborough.

It had been considering options after Secretary of State Michael Gove gave the go-ahead for the 1,700-inmate jail on land near HMP Gartree, overruling the council’s decision to refuse it planning permission.

The area where the prison would have been built.  Pic: Andy Carpenter

A council spokesperson said: “Harborough District Council wanted to fully explore the option of a legal challenge and funded advice from King’s Counsel (KC) on the matter.

“Unfortunately, KC advised that no grounds for a challenge have been identified.

“The council’s Chief Finance Officer also advised that allocation of funding for this legal challenge would not meet the fiduciary duties of the council.

“The council recognises that the decision not to allocate funding for a legal challenge was a difficult one and there is a lot of concern about the new prison in the community.

“It is disappointing that the council’s decision to refuse planning permission was overturned, but we also recognise that there is no reasonable chance of being successful in a legal challenge.”

The Council refused permission for the jail on the grounds of unsustainable location; harm to the character and appearance of the landscape and harm to an area designated as an Area of Separation, but the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) appealed the decision.