162. Mr Mould seeks to draw an analogy between provisions in the 1900 Act, which
predates modern planning control, which regulate the performance and future
maintenance of the improvement works, with conditions in a modern planning
permission which state and define the ambit of the planning control. However, unlike
the modern planning Acts, section 8 of the 1900 Act is specific to Victoria Tower
Gardens. The historical context revealed by the passage of the Act, which the appeal
submissions do not address, is clear. It supports the construction of section 8(1) as
imposing an enduring restriction on the use of the land. Victoria Tower Gardens is an
example of land with a statutory restriction (like, for example, much of National Trust
land may be declared inalienable, pursuant to Act of Parliament). Any change to its
use as a public garden requires parliamentary approval. If recourse may be had to prelegislative material for meaning, then the reference in the Report of the Improvements
Committee (13 March 1900) to the land being kept as a garden for the use of the
public forever’ puts the matter beyond doubt. Given the detail available in the archival
material, one would have expected to see a great deal written on the matter, had the
‘forever’ point been controversial.
163. As regards the exercise of discretion to allow Ground 3 to be argued: Mr Mould
places reliance on the statement in Trustees of Barker Mills Estates v Test Valley
Borough Council [2016] EWHC that “one factor which weighs strongly against
allowing a new point...is that if it had been raised in the earlier inquiry...it would
have been necessary for further evidence to be produced and/or additional factual
findings or judgments by the inspector, or alternatively participants would have had
the opportunity to adduce evidence or make submissions”. Mr Mould submits that
this was precisely the case here. However, there is a clear distinction between the
present case and the Barker Mills case. In Barker Mills the point in question had not
been raised by any party during the examination, a point the Judge placed emphasis
on (“Furthermore, no one suggests that it was raised by any other party” (70)). Here,
the point was raised by a party and in terms which directly invoke the central point
about legality (“Building on VTG…would be illegal under the Act…as the Act
requires that the land be maintained as ‘a garden open to the public’” (extract from
the relevant submission)). Having been raised, the Act needed to be grappled with, but
it was not. This is the context in which Mr Mould’s submission that the parties have
been denied an opportunity to adduce evidence on the matter falls to be assessed. In
the circumstances of this case, any such missed opportunity cannot amount to a
countervailing factor against the exercise of the discretion.
164. On the unusual facts of this case, the 1900 Act was a material planning
consideration, for the reasons explained in paragraphs 110, 111, 143, 149 and 154 of
the judgment. The Act affects the deliverability of the Memorial in Victoria Tower
Gardens and the desirability of implementing the Memorial within a reasonable
timescale was an integral part of the Inspector’s reasoning.
165. In the absence of a real prospect of success on appeal, there are no other
compelling reasons for the appeal to be heard. A ‘compelling’ reason must be a
legally compelling reason. Public interest in the project does not suffice. The
argument about construction of section 8 is specific to the present application for
planning permission. This is not a case where there is a need to elucidate the legal
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