Council issues further stop notice at development site

In November, Harborough District Council issued a temporary stop notice to David Wilson Homes, following a breach of planning conditions and complaints from neighbours.

The notice ordered the developer to cease using a farm track for construction vehicles on land at Burnmill Farm, off Kingston Way in Market Harborough, where 128 new homes are being built.

The temporary notice, which is now due to expire, was issued to prevent harm to nearby residential properties and harm to endangered species, such as Great Crested Newts, which are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

This latest stop notice is no longer ‘temporary’ and is attached to a new enforcement notice and was issued on 20 December, 2019, meaning David Wilson Homes must continue to cease using the unauthorised route for construction vehicles whilst the development work is underway.

Stop notices can be used by local planning authorities to act very quickly to address breaches of planning control, such as unauthorised activities.

Failure to comply could result in prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court and a maximum penalty of £20,000.

Cllr Jonathan Bateman, Harborough District Council’s planning enforcement lead, said: “We take planning breaches very seriously and if developers fail to comply with planning regulations then enforcement action will follow. I am pleased that we have been able to quickly respond to residents’ concerns and take action to ensure the developer complies with agreed planning conditions.”