Greencroft Forest Park appeal dismissed by High Court

It means the near 300-hectare Greencroft Forest Park can now proceed as planned, with planting due to restart this coming winter.

The North East plantation was initially approved by the government agency in early 2025, only to be subject to a Judicial Review in September last year over whether or not it had applied its environmental planning rules appropriately and effectively.

Despite a judge ruling in favour of the FC then, Lanchester Properties – part of the County Durham-based Lanchester Group – demanded an oral hearing to restate its case, which was heard in early June 2026.

Now, a High Court judge has ruled in favour of the Forestry Commission and True North, the asset manager behind the plantation.

Harry Humble, of True North Asset Partners, said: “We are relieved that this positive outcome has been reached and acknowledge the judge’s careful and considered determination.

“It is regrettable that this Judicial Review has taken up so much time and money, tied up valuable court resources and delayed much-needed tree planting in England.

“Now that the case has been resolved, we hope to move forward with the planting and delivering the significant economic, ecological and environmental benefits the forest will bring.

“The case has now been rejected by two High Court judges and has occupied three full days of High Court time, with legal costs exceeding £500,000.

“We sincerely hope this legal process has now come to an end and that Lanchester Properties will accept the High Court’s decision. In time, we hope they will also recognise the value of the forestry scheme and support the lasting benefits it will deliver for the local community.”

In his judgement – published on July 3 – Judge Jonathan Klein found that the Forestry Commission had sufficient information before making its decision. According to the official ruling, the lawyer acting on behalf of Lanchester accepted this, too, even as he continued to challenge its lawfulness.

The Judge wrote: “I have also considered whether the decision was unreasonable and have concluded that it was not.”

The judge further went on to argue that “it does not follow … that afforestation of this extent and nature is almost inevitably likely to have a significant environmental impact”.

Greencroft Forest Park is set to be made up of a total of 31 species and 600,000 individual trees.

A High Court judge ruled in favour of the Forestry Commission. (Image: Stock image)

A Forestry Commission spokesperson said: “We welcome the Court’s judgement, which confirms that the environmental impacts of the proposed Greencroft Forest Park woodland creation scheme were appropriately considered.”

 Lanchester Properties confirmed it was looking to appeal the decision.

Director Caroline Cleary-MacArthur said planting commercial Sitka spruce on this scale and next to villages was “fundamentally wrong”.

Pointing to comments made by Forestry Commission chair Baroness Young last year, Caroline added that “monoculture Sitka Spruce plantations do little to enhance biodiversity, landscape quality or public enjoyment of the countryside”.

She said: “This has never been about opposing trees. It is about ensuring that the right trees are planted in the right places, with genuine local engagement and a fair balance between commercial interests, environmental outcomes and the communities that live with the consequences.”