Derby wins his battle to build 400 new homes

THe Grand national may have been called off, but the earl of Derby has pulled off a remarkable victory against the odds near one of Britain’s premier horse-racing venues.

The scion of the Victorian prime minister has won an 11-year battle to build 400 homes on his stud farm near newmarket.

Jockeys and race spectators had contested the controversial plans of edward Stanley, the 19th earl of Derby, but the Government has now given a green light to the project.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick ruled the scheme would not undermine the town’s horse-racing industry — reversing a decision taken by his predecessor.

His report outlining the decision said: ‘The Secretary of State considers that the delivery of homes, including affordable units, carries substantial weight and that the economic benefits of the proposal carry modest weight in favour of the proposal.’

The development, on the Hatchfield Farm estate in newmarket, Suffolk, had been rejected by the then local Government Minister Sajid Javid in 2016.

But that decision was overturned in the High court a year later and, in 2017, planning judge Justice Gilbart ruled Javid’s decision was ‘fatally inconsistent’ and ‘plainly deficient’.

As well as the construction of 400 homes, lord Derby’s proposal also included two access roads. The Government report added there was ‘no evidence’ any horse trainers would move out of newmarket — HQ of British horse racing — if the plans went ahead.

on behalf of lord Derby’s Sansovino Developments, a spokesman said: ‘We are pleased the Secretary of State has now agreed with the recommendation of the inspector and granted planning permission for 400 homes at

Hatchfield Farm. This has been a lengthy process, during which time the housing need in newmarket has continued to increase. We look forward to bringing the new homes to newmarket, which so many people require.’

lord Derby’s development vehicle is named after the 1924 Derby winner Sansovino. it was the first time in 137 years the race had been won by a horse owned by the earl of Derby.