Hillingdon Council successfully obtained a High Court interim injunction on Friday 8 May to prevent the unauthorised use of land in Rickmansworth as a scrap metal yard.
Springwell Lane Metal Recycling Limited commenced use of the site without planning permission and, following complaints from residents, a planning enforcement notice was issued by the council in September 2024 requiring it to cease operating as scrap metal site.
It failed to comply with the notice, and legal proceedings were initiated against the company. However, because the site continued to remain in use and cause harm, the council also applied for the interim injunction to cease activities on the land.
The order against Springwell Lane Metal Recycling, its director Martin Nolan and Mark Green, an associate of the business, comes into effect immediately. Failure to adhere to it is an arrestable offence.
The High Court injunction prohibits:
- the use of the land, or any part thereof, in breach of the requirements of the enforcement notice
- the use of the land as a scrap metal yard
- carrying out any development on the land
- carrying out any further works on the land including, but not limited to, any building or engineering operations, the clearance or levelling of any land and/or the laying of any hardstanding or hardcore or materials
- depositing on the land any waste materials, hardcore or similar substances
- bringing onto, keeping or storing on the land any vehicles, plant and/or machinery unless necessary to secure the cessation of the use of the land and/or to clear the land.
The council is now seeking a full injunction which, along with requiring the use of the land as a scrap metal site to cease, would also require its full clearance.
Daniel Kennedy, Hillingdon Council’s Corporate Director of Residents Services, said: “This judgment is a significant step in the council’s efforts to halt unlawful activities at this site. We share residents’ concerns and frustrations, and I’m pleased the High Court has recognised the urgency of this issue by granting the interim injunction.
“The defendants have shown flagrant disregard of the enforcement notice and the wider impact of the site on the local area, but this hasn’t prevented the council taking further, robust action to ensure planning rules are enforced and bring activities to an end.
“My thanks to our planning enforcement and legal teams for securing this positive result.”
To report the unauthorised use of land or a planning breach, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/planning-enforcement.
