Lord Derby to appeal over latest refusal of his housing plans

Lord Derby has ensured the Hatchfield Farm saga in Newmarket will rumble on until at least 2017 by announcing he is to challenge in the High Court last month's decision by Sajid Javid, secretary of state for communities and local government, to reverse approval for the plans.

Many locals at the home of Flat racing thought that recent verdict, which ruled against the advice of the planning inspector and overturned the decision to grant planning permission by Forest Heath District Council, was the end of a seven-year fight against the proposals, which involve building 400 houses at the controversial site.

The importance of the racing industry to the economy of Newmarket was one of the main factors that was thought to have finally sunk the long-running application, which had been given the go-ahead by FHDC planners in June 2014.