Our papers of 25 September 2026
Exhibit D7 to the alternatives paper: the Council’s email of 9 April 2026 on the benches
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Exhibit D7 to our alternatives, justification and public benefits paper of 25 September 2026 (register document 9540121): the Council’s email of 9 April 2026 on the benches in Christ’s Lane.
The document in full
Page 1
Exhibit D7: the Senior Planning Lawyer’s email to CLAG of 9 April 2026 on the benches Christ’s Lane Action Group. Application 26/02109/FUL. Exhibit to CLAG’s alternatives, justification and public benefits paper (23 September 2026).
The email is reproduced as received at CLAG’s address, text in full; the sender’s signature block is abbreviated to name and office, and the earlier message quoted beneath it (CLAG’s email of 31 March 2026) is omitted. From: Vanessa Blane, Senior Planning Lawyer, 3C Shared Services – Legal Practice (Vanessa.Blane@3csharedservices.org) Date: 9 April 2026 at 12:11:10 BST To: Residents at Christ’s Lane (residents@christs-lane.com) Subject: FW: Judicial Review - Christ College Library - St Andrews Street, Cambridge- AC2025-LON - 004646 - (2555204) Dear Christ Lane Action Group, Further to your email of 31 March. The decision to request the removal of the benches was made to the City Council by Christ’s College. The land on which the benches were installed belongs to the College and the Council agreed to the request for their removal. As the landowner, the College were entitled to request their removal, and the Council does not have the power to insist that they remain. The judicial review proceedings concerning the planning permission do not extend to or create any obligation on the College to keep the benches in place. The Council is not aware of any legal requirement for the retention / reinstatement of the benches, and it is understood that there is no intention from the College to reinstate them. Kind regards Vanessa Vanessa Blane Senior Planning Lawyer 3C Shared Services – Legal Practice (Corporate Group)
Exhibit D7, page 1 of 1
The first permission is quashed. The second is frozen.
On Tuesday 20 October 2026 the High Court quashed the first approval, 25/02161/FUL, on all four grounds of our claim. The Secretary of State has frozen the permission. On 13 October she directed the Council not to grant it without her authorisation while she considers whether to call the application in, six days after the identical application 26/02109/FUL was controversially approved. If you would like to support a call in, write to us and we will tell you how.
Email residents@christs-lane.com.