Hogans have instructed mental health specialist Jonathan Butler, a barrister with India Buildings in Liverpool. On the new court, Mr Butler said: “It makes a difference for the people who live here and are affected by these decisions. They don’t have to go down to London because they now have a court on their doorstep.

“There will be more people who are inclined to take advantage of that facility to defend their rights – and that means local authorities will be more accountable to the people who live within their jurisdictions.”

Mr Justice Langstaff is the first judge with day-to-day responsibility for the operation of the court, which is housed in Manchester’s new civil justice centre, in the city’s Spinningfields district.

Opening the court, Mr Justice Langstaff said: “Most claims arise out of deprivation, denial of education, care and housing and these problems are no less present in the North West than in London – perhaps they are, in fact, greater.

“The administrative court will not be a poor relative to that in London. Here there is room for the proud Mancunian or Scouser to say that we may perhaps do things better here than in London.

“We have here a small but dedicated team of staff manning the Administrative Court as a separate office, with a local experienced lawyer dedicated to the work. The result is that I can confidently say cases will take less time from start to finish here than in London.”