Illegal building site in Thatcham shut down by High Court injunction
West Berkshire council has taken steps to prevent the development continuing
West Berkshire District Council has been granted an Injunction to prevent further unauthorised development activity taking place at Lawrences Lane in Thatcham pending a full hearing due to take place on 31 August.
An urgent, out of hours, hearing took place before Mrs Justice Stacey in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, following which the Injunction was granted, in particular prohibiting the residential occupation of the Land. Copies of the Court Order were served on the various Defendants late on Wednesday evening.
Cllr Richard Somner, Executive Member for Planning, Transport and Countryside said:
“Following on from the temporary stop notice that was issued on Tuesday, this is the next important step in the process to ensure that our planning policies and procedures are conformed to by those seeking to avoid them.
“I want to pay a huge tribute to officers in our legal and planning teams, and to external solicitors and counsel, for the enormous amount of work that went in to getting the application before the court so urgently.”
Injunction details
The Injunction prohibits the Defendants and any other person from using the Land or carrying out any work on the Land that breaches planning control.
In addition the Defendants must not:
Bring onto the Land any additional caravans and/or mobile homes for the purpose of human habitation or residential occupation or any other purpose in breach of planning control;
Take up permanent residential occupation of the 7 touring caravans on the Land;
Bring onto the Land any portable structures including portable toilets and any other items and paraphernalia for purposes associated with human habitation or residential occupation or any other purpose in breach of planning control;
Bring onto the Land any further waste materials and/or hardcore and/or like materials for any purpose, including the creation/laying of hardstandings or hard surfaces, in association with the use of Land for the stationing of further caravans and/or mobile homes for the purpose of human habitation or residential occupation or any other purpose in breach of planning control;
Carry out any further works in relation to the formation of paths, roadways or any works including the provision of sewerage, water and electricity infrastructure associated with the use of caravans and/or mobile homes for the purpose of human habitation or residential occupation or any other purpose in breach of planning control;
Carry out any further works to the Land associated with or in preparation for its use for stationing caravans and/or mobile homes for human habitation or residential occupation or any other purpose in breach of planning control;
Undertake any further development on the Land as defined in section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 without the express grant of planning permission.