A COUNCIL has confirmed it will not appeal a decision to allow a secondary school to remain in a village.

South Bucks District Council has confirmed it will not be appealing the decision to allow Khalsa Secondary Academy to remain at the Pioneer House site in Hollybush Hill, Stoke Poges, following a High Court ruling on July 15.

A council spokeswoman said: “South Bucks District Council will not be appealing the decision made at the High Court on July 15, after receiving advice from counsel.

"We thought long and hard and it is not a decision we have taken lightly. We would like to assure residents that we continue to be committed to the protection of the green belt and residents’ amenities whenever we can justifiably do so."

Judge David Elvin QC upheld the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government’s decision to allow the Sikh-faith school to continue at the site.

The High Court case was the culmination of a three-year battle to determine the site of the school, after it was given temporary permission by the government to be housed at the site.

SBDC refused planning permission, which was supported by a planning inspector, but the Secretary of State overruled that decision on appeal twice - the first time the secretary reversed his own decision before it was redetermined.

Stoke Poges Parish Council also fought the decision, challenging in court alongside SBDC. Both councils had a week to determine whether they would appeal or not, but both have decided against it.