Groups challenge axed animal lab

Planning permission for the scheme runs for five years

Animal welfare groups are to push ahead with a legal challenge against plans for a new primate testing laboratory - despite the scheme being abandoned.

Two groups are challenging a decision to grant Cambridge University planning permission to build a testing facility.

In the High Court on Monday they will claim a decision was "predetermined".

In January the university announced the £32m project had been shelved, but as planning permission is valid for five years the scheme could be rekindled.

Lawyers for the National Anti-Vivisection Society and Animal Aid will claim the decision to grant planning permission had been made without all of the arguments for and against being considered.

Lawyers for the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who made the final decision, will fight the claims.

'Foregone conclusion'

Local planners had thrown out the university's request to build the lab because of police fears about public safety and a public inquiry also rejected the proposals.

Mr Prescott then overruled the planning inspector and approved the facility "in the national interest".

The animal lobby groups claim the government had already made up its mind before the inquiry was held.

Norna Hughes, the groups' solicitor, said Mr Prescott did not see her clients' evidence and claimed this was an indication the decision was a "foregone conclusion".

"All my clients have sought, throughout this whole process was a fair hearing," she said.

Cambridge University decided the costs, including measures needed to protect the facility from animal rights militants, would make the laboratory uneconomic. It has not indicated the plans will be revived.