Bedford Borough Council has secured a High Court injunction to prevent further development and occupation of land off the A6 between Wilstead and Wixams after officers said the site was occupied without planning permission.
The interim injunction, granted by the High Court on Thursday, 4 June, prevents a wide range of activities on the site, including further construction works, excavation, land clearance, additional caravans and further residential occupation.
The order relates to land south of Bedford Road, Wilstead, known locally as the former Strat Farm site.
Rapid response
The council said officers were first alerted to activity on the land at around 5pm on Friday, 29 May.
Planning enforcement officers attended the site within two hours to assess whether there had been any breaches of planning control.
According to the council, a caravan arrived on the site the following day. Officers then served an emergency planning notice under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to prevent further occupation or development.
The council subsequently launched legal proceedings and applied to the High Court for an injunction.
A council spokesperson said: “We attended the site as soon as we were alerted by the public, and thank them for their patience and support.
“We take issues of this nature extremely seriously, just as we know our residents and communities do.”
Court order
Court documents show the order prohibits a wide range of activities without planning permission, including:
- Carrying out further development on the site
- Excavation or land clearance works
- Laying hardstanding, hardcore, gravel, stone or concrete bases
- Erecting fencing, gates, roads or tracks
- Creating additional plots
- Bringing further caravans or mobile homes onto the land
- Allowing further residential occupation
- Installing additional services or utility connections
The order states that anyone who breaches the injunction could be held in contempt of court, which can result in imprisonment, fines, or the seizure of assets.
The injunction remains in force until at least a further High Court hearing scheduled for Thursday, 18 June.
“Important step”
Cllr Marc Frost (Conservative, Wixams and Wilstead) said the injunction represented an important step in ensuring planning rules were followed.
In a social media post, he said: “The injunction has now been served and is in force with immediate effect.
“It applies to the named defendants and also to persons unknown, meaning anyone carrying out, encouraging or facilitating unauthorised development on the site could face contempt of court proceedings.
“This is an important step in protecting the area and ensuring planning rules are followed.”
Cllr Frost added that copies of the order had been posted around the site and asked residents not to remove them.
The High Court will hold a further hearing on Thursday, 18 June.
Those subject to the injunction will have the opportunity to make representations to the court before a decision is made on whether further action is required.
The council said breaches of planning control can include unauthorised development or occupation of land without planning permission, as well as unauthorised works to listed buildings and protected trees.
