main content Farnborough builders fined

A Farnborough-based building company has pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an enforcement notice. Stevens Associates Limited based in Cleave Avenue, Farnborough was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £400 costs at Bromley Magistrates Court last Wednesday. The company did not have planning permission to store building equipment and materials in the garden and had not acted on an enforcement notice.

“Taking enforcement action is normally a last resort - but planning laws exist for a reason. A residential back garden is not a suitable location for a commercial builders storage yard. It also creates an unsightly view for residents occupying flats above the premises.” said Tim Bloomfield, Development Control Manager.

A planning application was received from Stevens Associates Limited in February 2004, which sought to retain the use of land for the storage of building materials and equipment. The application was refused and authority granted for enforcement action. A legal notice was served in September 2004, requiring an end to the use of the garden for this purpose and its restoration to its former condition. No appeal regarding the notice was made by Stevens Associates Limited and several site visits after the date of compliance specified revealed that removal and making-good had not been carried out.

Last year, in 2004, the Council’s Planning Enforcement team investigated over 1,000 cases where planning regulations had been breached. As a consequence, just over 453 enforcement notices were issued. Failure to comply with an enforcement notice can result in a prosecution with the maximum fine for non-compliance being £20,000.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact Amy Bevins, Strategy Development Officer on 020 8313 4989 or Tim Bloomfield, Development Control Manager 020 8313 4687 or email amy.bevins@bromley.gov.uk.