Court victory in flats row could cost thousands

Print firm boss Mark Snee has succeeded in having planning permission quashed for 12 flats near his business in Morley, Leeds. Mr Snee claimed the decision to grant consent was "hasty and ill-considered".

Yesterday a High Court judge ruled that granting planning permission was "irrational or unreasonable". The judge will rule later on who will have to bear the enormous legal costs and whether Leeds Council can appeal.

The case had threatened to throw thousands of council decisions into doubt, but in the end a judge ruled them valid.

A council spokeswoman said it was disappointed by the ruling but would ensure any errors were not repeated.