A preservation watchdog failed today in its High Court battle to prevent the historic Middlesex Guildhall being converted into the new UK Supreme Court.

Save Britain’s Heritage asked the High Court to block Westminster City Council’s decision last November granting planning permission for the change of use.

Opponents described the proposals as “vandalism” because the alterations which would be necessary could lead to the loss of the Guildhall’s fine gothic revival interiors.

But today, Mr Justice Collins, ruled the council’s planning and development committee was entitled to conclude that it was “the right location” for the new Supreme Court, and it was “necessary and desirable in the national interest” for the alterations to take place.

The judge said: “I appreciate many believe the decision to locate the Supreme Court in the old Middlesex Guildhall is the wrong decision.”

But, he added, the planning rules had not been infringed.

Yesterday, Joseph Harper, QC, appearing for Save Britain’s Heritage, said Government guidelines stressed a “general presumption in favour of the preservation of listed buildings” and continuation of their existing use if they were not redundant.

The interests of a building - in this case, a Grade II listed Crown Court in constant use - were superior to “the aspirations of the developer”, Mr Harper said.

Yet none of these - and other policy considerations - were put to the council’s planning committee which, as a result, gave no proper reasons for its decision, it was claimed.

Rejecting the submissions, Mr Justice Collins said: “I have no doubt that the committee was not only aware of the guidance but applied it.”

The Department for Constitutional Affairs says the introduction of a Supreme Court for the UK “will provide greater clarity in our constitutional arrangements”.

This will be achieved by moving the Law Lords from the Palace of Westminster to the new court, thus “further separating the judiciary from the legislature and the executive”.

It will also become the home of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council - currently based in Downing Street - the final court of appeal for parts of the Commonwealth.

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