AN environmental campaigner has lost her legal bid to prevent 800 homes being built in East Renfrewshire.

Elizabeth Patton instructed lawyers to go to the Court of Session in Edinburgh, hoping to stop developers beginning work at a development in Newton Mearns.

She argued that East Renfrewshire Council acted incorrectly when it granted planning permission for the development in the Maidenhill area in July last year.

Ms Patton, who lives in Newton Mearns, believes the local authority didn’t properly consider the risk of flooding at the site, which is in greenfield land.

The joint CALA Homes and Taylor Wimpey development at Maidenhill Farm is targeted for completion by 2019 and includes plans for a new 400-pupil primary school and greenspace the equivalent size of 19 football pitches.

However, Newton Mearns Residents Flood Prevention Group (NMRFPG) believe the plans will create a new ‘urban quarter’ in the town and put too much strain on the sewer system.

Ms Patton’s lawyers addressed judge Lord Glennie at the Court of Session at a judicial review last year.

The judicial review was taken against developers East Renfrewshire Council and CALA Homes and Taylor Wimpey.

Ms Patton’s legal team urged Lord Glennie to overturn the council’s decision.

However, in a written judgement issued at the Court of Session on Friday, Lord Glennie ruled that East Renfrewshire Council acted in accordance with the law.

He wrote: “I agree with the submissions made on behalf of the respondent and of the developers.

“I am satisfied that the committee had before it all relevant material.

“For these reasons, the petitioner’s challenge to the decision by the respondent to grant planning permission fails.”