Successful planning enforcement in Great Horwood restores open countryside to previous state

In December 2020, Buckinghamshire Council successfully secured compliance with a High Court Injunction to restore the land to open countryside.

The injunction, on land to the rear of Nash Park in Winslow Road, Great Horwood, was granted by the High Court in November 2019 and required the owner of the land to remove a vast quantity of hard core, remove six buried metal septic tanks and restore the land to its condition prior to the works taking place, including the laying of appropriate top soil.

The works should have been completed by July 2020.

Planning Enforcement Officers visited the site and established that the injunction has not been complied with and instigated further legal action. This action made it abundantly clear to the owner that they must comply with the requirements of the injunction. Vast quantities of hard core were removed from the land, the septic tanks removed and topsoil laid. The land has now been fully restored to its condition prior to the unauthorised works taking place.

Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet member for Planning and Enforcement, Cllr Warren Whyte said “This is a really great example of the real world impact that the planning enforcement service can have on our environment.

"This site was once a dumping ground for disused household items and uninhabitable caravans. The team have worked hard to secure compliance with the High Court Injunction and the land is now restored to open Buckinghamshire countryside.

"This should act as a warning to others considering breaching planning control that the Council will not hesitate to take firm action against those that flout planning law.

"We will use all the tools available to us to secure compliance with planning regulations and will not hesitate to pursue action in the courts where necessary, and demonstrates our new robust approach."