Runnymede Borough Council hit with £17,500 court costs and told to revisit planning decision over Grade II listed church
Runnymede Borough Council has been ordered to pay £17,500 in costs to a campaigner who has spent almost seven years fighting to safeguard a church’s historically important features.
Following a judicial review, the High Court has also told the council to take another look at whether to carry out enforcement action over the conversion of the Grade II listed Christ Church Longcross into flats – and whether there were any breaches of listed building control of unlawful development.
The challenge was taken up by Theresa Burton, a former councillor at the borough and founder of the Friends of Christ Church Longcross.
The conversion work has resulted in the loss of historic stained glass and ancient stone work being painted over.
She claims the council failed to enforce an unauthorised demolition and alteration of parts of a listed building and challenges its decision to grant listed building consent in respect of the installation of vents.
The council has said it expects to revisit its planning decision, with an open mind, in September.
A spokesman for Runnymede Borough Council said: “The council cannot comment on the likely outcome of the planning enforcement case, as the council must be fair and open minded to both the site owner and to the claimant.
“The case will be subject to redetermination at planning committee where the planning merits of the case will be considered in an open, transparent and fair manner.
“This redetermination may or may not lead to a different final outcome to the original decision.
“The decision is likely to be taken in September of this year.”
Theresa Burton said: “After reviewing the input from the Heritage Advisors and experts I will seek the strongest possible response from the council for the protection of the heritage of this building.
“I first started reporting enforcement concerns in May 2022, when the developer undertook works to the building without having the required European Protected Species License in place.
“In September of 2023, when the stained glass and historic windows were being replaced with the current mix of encapsulated stained glass and fake leaded lights for the remaining glass, all framed in UPVC, I contacted the council, as did The Victorian Society.
“I objected to a retrospective planning application in May 2024 with an independent heritage report prepared by Bidwells.
“When the Place Services Heritage Advice was published post planning decision and some eight months after the council received it, I launched the Judicial Review in December 2024.”