Weston drops Jenrick High Court challenge

Weston Homes has withdrawn a High Court challenge against housing secretary Robert Jenrick’s refusal of its 1,250-home Anglia Square development. Chairman and chief executive Bob Weston (pictured) announced plans to fight the decision last November, branding it “undemocratic and commercially unjustified”. In a furious tirade last year, Weston said Jenrick was setting prime minister Boris Johnson up as “the enemy of the housebuilding industry”. However, the housebuilder said following dialogue with key statements it will now return to the drawing board to rework the £271m residential scheme. Weston Homes will work with partner Columbia Threadneedle, Homes England and Norwich Council to address concerns raised by Historic England and Jenrick himself. The housing secretary previously argued that the bulk and massing was not sympathetic to the environment when he refused the scheme, despite officer recommendations to approve. Bob Weston said: “Weston Homes remains committed to devising proposals that provide a future for the Anglia Square site, and for this to be successful we need to be aligned with key stakeholders such as Historic England and others who, like us, are passionate about the site and Norwich.” To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette Image © Weston Homes