Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

John Mussington and Another v Development Control Authority and Others (Antigua and Barbuda)

In a court hearing over the Barbudan airport, counsel reported that a 2012 Sustainable Island Resource Management and Zoning Plan—developed with UN involvement—exists but its status under the 2003 Planning Act (section 9) is unclear. The discussion focused on procedural defects: whether statutory notice requirements under section 22/221 and consultation obligations under section 223 were met, and whether village council discussion of an economic project (including the airport) amounted to lawful public notice. Government counsel could not identify the current operative planning permission—acknowledging an initial unconditional approval was later converted to conditional approval—but could not produce the conditions on the record and agreed to file them. The airport is already constructed, which raises the prospect that a successful judicial finding of illegality would force the government to reapply for permission rather than undo completed works.