THE DARTMOOR National Park Authority has lost its attempt to overturn the planning permission for the sustainable-living project at Steward Community Woodland, near Moretonhampstead.

In August last year, a planning inspector granted the low-impact settlement a five-year temporary permission, quashing the decision of an earlier inquiry that the community should leave the woods. Shortly afterwards the DNPA was granted leave to appeal in the High Court in London against the inspector's decision.

On Tuesday, Mr Justice Sullivan said that the decision may have been a good one on planning merits, or it may have been a bad one. But there had been no error in law.

Graham Wall, DNPA's chief planner, said that he was led to conclude that the judge felt that it was an odd decision, given the one from the previous inquiry.

'We remain of that view ourselves,' he said. 'But we will now work with the community to monitor the project, and to see whether they fulfill their objectives.'

The community, which is currently made up of six adults and one young child, is required as part of its permission to provide the DNPA with an annual update on its activities.

Dan Mills, a spokesperson for the community, said: 'We are extremely happy that the judge has upheld the decision of the planning inspector granting us temporary planning permission for five years.

'In this judgement he is fully satisfied that the inspector considered all aspects of our case and that decision was proper and lawful. The judge agreed that the inspector was justified in finding that the sustainable project being carried out at Steward Wood is worthwhile.'