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A charity has won a Court of Appeal bid to continue a legal challenge over rules allowing trans people to use the single-sex facilities at Hampstead Heath’s swimming ponds.
Sex Matters wanted to appeal against Mrs Justice Lieven’s January ruling January that it could not proceed with legal action against the City of London Corporation.
The charity had sought to challenge the corporation’s policy of allowing trans people to use the ponds for the gender with which they identify, on the basis that it amounts to sex discrimination.
Mrs Justice Lieven said in her ruling that the “appropriate forum” for the claim was the county court, rather than the High Court.
Last month, Sex Matters said it had applied for permission to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal on the basis that the judge was “wrong in law”.
In an order on Monday, Appeal Judge Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing said the legal challenge could go ahead and would return to the High Court.
Sex Matters CEO Maya Forstater said the charity was “delighted” by Lady Justice Laing’s decision.
Forstater added: “Her ruling in the Court of Appeal confirmed that as a specialist charity with objections focused on the sound administration of the law in relation to sex, Sex Matters has standing to take this case.
“This case will have implications for single-sex provision all over the country.