Concerns over St Albans Council’s dealing with important development plans for the whole district are to be addressed in high court.

Last year, the council submitted a draft of its strategic local plan (SLP), which will form the blueprint for building development in the district until 2031.

A planning inspector from the national government, David Hogger, was brought in to examine it and deemed the council had no met its duty to cooperate with neighbourhood planning authorities.

The concern was disputed by the council, and it started legal proceedings against the secretary for communities and local government in January.

It is now applying to the High Court for permission to seek a judicial review into Mr Hogger’s decision.

A High Court judge, Mr Justice Holgate, has ordered the hearing to grant or deny a judicial review will take place as soon as possible after June 6 this year.

If permission is granted, the review will take place in a public hearing immediately afterwards.

In his High Court order, Mr Justice Holgate asked the council to make sure its grounds of claim are “more focussed”.

This is so competing arguments would be “clearer for the court to determine”.

Amended grounds are expected to be filed by the council by Monday, March 13.