Lord Derby loses active support of local council in latest appeal

Lord Derby will have to challenge the latest refusal of his plans for Hatchfield Farm in Newmarket without the active support of the local authority in the High Court after Forest Heath District Council decided not to join the fight.

Last month, the Earl announced he was to go to court to challenge the recent decision by government minister Sajid Javid to reverse FHDC's decision to approve the plans for 400 houses which it originally passed in 2014.

At a meeting at the FHDC offices last Tuesday, the council confirmed it would not appeal the decision but would remain an interested party and instead unanimously agreed to start work on a prospectus to define a long-term sustainable future for Newmarket.