The Central Administrative Court ruled Thursday to revoke an environment impact assessment (EIA) report on a high-end residence project on Ratchadamri Road on the ground it did not comply with the building control law and related regulations.
In its ruling, the court nullified the endorsement of the EIA report by an environment impact assessment committee on building, land allocation and community service, which comes under the National Environment Board.
The court said backing for the EIA report on the "Mahadlek Residence" in soi Mahadlekluang 2 in Bangkok's Pathumwan district was unlawful because the calculation of floor area ratio (FAR) was not in compliance with the regulations on building control and city planning.
The court found the narrow sois surrounding the plot could not accommodate the construction of the high-rise, so the committee could not endorse the EIA report.
According to the court, the revocation took effect on the day the report was endorsed, which was on April 3, 2014.
The lawsuit over the high-end residence project is between a group of 23 people and four agencies including the committee on building, land allocation and community service and the Office of Environment Policy and Planning.
The complainants are residents in the area who claim to have been affected by the project, developed by Thai Factory Development Plc (TFD).
The condominium project, with 516 units, is planned for the 1.3-rai land plot owned by the Office of the Privy Purse. It is said to be the last plot with many large trees and is highly prized in the locality.
In January this year, the Central Administrative Court suspended a construction licence given to the project.
The licence was issued by City Hall's Department of Public Works to the Office of the Privy Purse to build the 41-storey building.
The court said the Office of the Privy Purse is not a corporation, but only a "unit" under the Bureau of the Royal Household with no authority to seek a licence. Only a corporate company could seek one.