Plans to transfer the courts currently based at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court in Westminster to make way for the new supreme court have hit a major problem after local councillors in Hounslow rejected the Courts Service's application to build extra courtrooms there.


Last week, the service lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate for permission to develop Isleworth Crown Court, regardless of councillors' views. It wants to have a car-park at the site demolished and a six-courtroom extension added to the existing building.



The councillors rejected the application on a number of grounds, including that it would represent overdevelopment, a loss of visual amenity, and have a detrimental impact on traffic safety and parking.



The appeal is likely to be heard in January or February 2007. A Courts Service spokeswoman said its longer-term plans continue to be focused on Isleworth, and declined to discuss its contingency arrangements should it lose the appeal.



Rupert White