Court injunction at Wheatsheaf Hill permanent

The injunction, which was granted at Bromley County Court, also follows legal action where a defendant, David Barker, has been fined £25,000 for Contempt of Court in failing to comply with the Court Order.  Mr Barker was also ordered to pay costs of £10,000.  The granting of the permanent injunction, which relates to land at the junction of Sevenoaks Road and Wheatsheaf Hill Halstead, follows the granting of an interim injunction, which was first granted in June 2021.

A Bromley Council spokesperson said, “We will always look to protect Green Belt land, which remains an important and enduring principle.  We will always follow the necessary legal processes, as this particular case demonstrates, with this detailed work being time consuming but necessary in its nature.  We will not hesitate to bring other matters to the attention of the Courts if it is right to do so and we will continue to routinely monitor the site.”

The granting of the injunction followed activities at the site which have included clearing the field of vegetation and the stationing of 6 mobile homes within the field.  The injunction covers the “Land at the junction of Sevenoaks Road and Wheatsheaf Hill Halstead”.  Breaching the now permanent order could result in a defendant being found guilty of contempt of court and may be sent to prison or fined.

The permanent injunction forbids the:

• Stationing or causing to be stationed any mobile homes, caravans, buildings, structures or fences, whether portable or otherwise on any part of the Land at Junction of Sevenoaks Road and Wheatsheaf Hill Halstead for any purpose other than agricultural purpose other than those which are in position on 17th June 2021 or which may be placed on the land pursuant to the express grant of planning permission from the Claimant in writing or, on appeal, from the Secretary of State
• Using or permitting the use of the mobile homes present on the Land on 17th June 2021 for residential purposes without the express grant of planning permission from the Claimant in writing or, on appeal, from the Secretary of State
• Carrying out any further works to prepare the Land for the stationing of mobile homes or caravans without the express grant of planning permission from the Claimant in writing or, on appeal, from the Secretary of State.
• Undertaking any development on the Land as defined in Section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, without the express grant of planning permission from the Claimant in writing or, on appeal, from the Secretary of State including the laying of further hardcore and creation of hardstandings and/or access roads to that shown on the Plan attached.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Executive on 020 8461 7670 or email Andrew.Rogers@bromley.gov.uk