Lady Justice Lieven found Natural England had not met its statutory obligation to protect Catfield Fen from pollution, a decision The Guardian described as a third legal victory for Norfolk farmers Tim and Geli Harris.
The Guardian said the ruling came this month. The court left any further orders to later submissions.
Catfield Fen is in England’s Norfolk Broads, and The Guardian describes it as internationally important. The Harrises farm 460 acres in the area. They have spent 15 years challenging agencies over the site and committed £1.5 million of their own money to the effort, the newspaper reported.
The current ruling follows two earlier successes described in the report: a 2016 public inquiry and a 2022 legal battle involving water abstraction. The latest decision concerns pollution at the fen, while the earlier case involved the taking of water.
The Guardian linked the pollution to nitrates and phosphates washing from arable fields. It also reported that limits on water abstraction have upset some local farmers, including growers of potatoes, which the article describes as a lucrative crop.
The Harrises are also considering another legal challenge, The Guardian reported.
