planning

Message from Planning Enforcement Team.

I can confirm that an Enforcement Notice was served on 6th September 2024 against the unauthorised use of the Land as an unauthorised Scrap Metal Site in consideration of the formal determination to refuse retrospective planning permission. Subsequently, the operators of the site submitted an Appeal to the Planning Inspector who sit above the Local Planning Authority and have the powers to uphold or dismiss an appeal, and in doing so, uphold, quash or vary/correct an Enforcement Notice. 

The Planning Inspector issued the Appeal Decision on 28 March 2025. The Appeal was dismissed and the Enforcement Notice upheld subject to minor amendments.

The compliance period is one calendar month, and accordingly the operators have one calendar month from the date of the appeal decision to comply, i.e before 28 April 2025.

The requirements of the notice are to:

(i) Cease the use of the Land as a Scrap Metal Yard;

(ii) Demolish and remove from the Land all metal sheet fence panels and wooden posts erected in association with the Scrap Metal Yard;

(iii) Remove from the Land all skips, scrap metal, gas canisters, tyres, and waste materials associated with the Scrap Metal Yard;

(iv) Remove from the Land all vehicles and machinery associated with the Scrap Metal Yard;

(v) Remove from the Land all debris, items, building materials resulting from compliance with points (i) ? (iv) above

We will conduct a site inspection on or shortly after 28 April 2025. Should it be established that the Notice has not been complied with at that time, the next step will be to write to all those with a legal interest in the Land, notifying them of the Council’s intention to instigate prosecution proceedings. Failure to comply with the requirements of an Enforcement Notice(s) is a criminal offence, which on conviction, can result in an unlimited fine. 

Separately, in relation to the comments you make in relation to the “effect on the environment”, I can confirm that the Environment Agency attended a joint inspection of the site (at my request) with Council Officers in February 2024. They are aware of this site and where they identify concerns, they have powers to require certain actions. Since the site inspection, the Environment Agency have not shared environmental concerns with me. In any case I refer you to the above action which has been taken by the Council, using powers within its control to deal with the breach of planning control.