People living illegally in farmer’s field in Northamptonshire given court order to leave in 28 days

The notice was served by enforcement officers at South Northamptonshire Council at the field near Nether Heyford.

An SNC spokesman said the order was made on Monday after being granted by the Planning Court at The High Court in Birmingham.

“The half-acre site known as Sheepcott, first came to the council’s attention in 2010 when several mobile homes were moved on to the field which is surrounded by a working farm.

“An Enforcement Notice was issued in 2011 requiring the removal of the mobile homes.

“The site was vacated, but at the same time a planning application was lodged for retrospective permission for the mobile homes,” he said.

“That planning application attracted 300 letters of objection including one from the parish council.

“Permission was turned down by the SNC Development Control Committee on the basis that the site is in the open countryside and that it is adjacent to a working farm.

“If allowed to become a domestic site future residents would be in a position to object to planning applications submitted by the farm, thereby restricting its growth. That decision was upheld by a planning inspector,” the spokesman said.

Since then the site was re-occupied and SNC is obliged to pursue the initial enforcement notice to have the site cleared.

Councillor Rebecca Breese, SNC’s portfolio holder for planning the environment said: “We regret having to spend public resources on pursuing an action through the courts, however there was a clear disregard of our planning policies and decisions.

“One of our key priorities as a council is the preservation of what makes our district special and where appropriate we will take the action required to achieve that aim.”

If you suspect a breach of planning control visit - http://www.southnorthants.gov.uk/Servicepage1158.htm - or call the SNC planning enforcement team on 01327 322237.