A CONTROVERSIAL decision to approve plans for ten homes in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will be reviewed in the High Court.

The judicial review will examine whether a decision, taken in March by Babergh Council, to allow a housing development in East Bergholt was lawful.

The case, which is being brought by East Bergholt Parish Council, concerns the building of ten homes in Hadleigh Road.

A separate decision on the same day to allow 144 homes to built in Moores Lane is now being reconsidered and could depend on the outcome of the High Court case.

David Bowman, a senior associate at law firm Royds Withy King, which is representing the parish council in its planning battle, said: “There are a number of parish councils in Suffolk and across rural England that will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of this case.

“The judgment will clarify how local housing needs should be met in rural locations in view of the ever increasing pressure on local planning authorities to allow residential development.

“At least three judicial reviews are currently being brought by rural parish councils against Babergh Council and this case will be the test case which will decide whether hundreds of new homes are built in this beautiful, culturally-significant and as yet unspoilt part of Suffolk.”

The dispute arose after planners appro ved the two applications at a time when the parish council’s neighbourhood plan was still being finalised.

A third development for an additional 75 houses in the village is now going through the planning process.

The permissions were in sharp contrast to the majority of residents’ vision for the development of the village.

The court case also raises concerns over the extent to which Babergh Council’s planning decisions have been influenced by the Government’s New Homes Bonus which provides income to cash-strapped councils as a reward for authorising development.

A spok esman for Babergh Council said it was not true to suggest the council would fill a shortfall through allowing development in the district.

“It is a big challenge and we would look at a range of different options to address it,” he said.

“For example in our 2016/17 budget we increased the council tax prece pt by 3.5 per cent.”

A decision following the hearing, which took place on Wednesday, December 7, is expected early in the new year.