SEVERAL months of uncertainty lie ahead after it was announced that both the Baxter's Field and Mankley Field decisions will go to judicial review.

Stroud District Council has announced its decision to take High Court action against the planning inspector's decision to uphold the appeal to build 150 homes in Leonard Stanley.

At the same time developers Gladman has also started High Court action against the planning inspector’s decision to dismiss the appeal for 112 homes in Summer Street, Stroud.

Ironically the reasons for both judicial reviews are based on the weight each of the planning inspector's put on the issue of landscape when making their decisions.

Gladman's is arguing that inspector John Chase, who dismissed the appeal on the basis that the adverse impacts to the character and beauty of the countryside would not outweigh the benefits, put too much emphasis on the landscape when making his decision.

Whilst Stroud District Council is arguing that inspector David Nicholson did not put enough emphasis on the issue of landscape when he concluded that the need for new housing outweighed the landscape harm.

According to Phil Skill, head of planning at SDC, the cases are unlikely to be heard until the new year and if the council loses its appeal over Mankley Field it could end up costing the council around £50,000.

Stroud MP Neil Carmichael has written to Secretary of State Eric Pickles reiterating his support for the inspector's decision on Baxter's Field.