CA-2025-000986 - [2025] EWCA Civ 1405

To be legally adequate the reasons for a decision need only provide conclusions on the principal important controversial issues, and not on every material consideration or matter raised;

Reasons (a) must not give rise to a substantial doubt as to whether the decision-maker erred in law and (b) should enable unsuccessful opponents of the development proposed to understand how the policy or approach underlying the decision may impact upon future such applications;

Decision letters should be read in a straightforward manner, recognising that they are addressed to parties well aware of the issues involved and the arguments advanced;

A reasons challenge will only succeed if the party aggrieved can satisfy the court that it has genuinely been substantially prejudiced by the failure to provide an adequately reasoned decision.