A homeowner in Chorleywood has lost their planning appeal to extend their garden into an open area of grassed amenity land.
In August 2019 the owner attempted to enclose the amenity land which was next to his house.
The planning department informed them that this constituted a material change of use requiring planning permission. Despite the warning, the owner carried on with the changes.
They altered the ground levels, laid hard-surfacing and erected fencing.
There were negotiations to attempt to remedy the breach but the owner carried on developing the land against council advice.
The planning department was left with no choice but to serve an enforcement notice against the unauthorised works.
The owner appealed against the notice on various grounds, but they were all dismissed by The Planning Inspectorate with the notice upheld.
Cllr Steve Drury, lead member for planning, stresses the importance of seeking pre-application advice first.
He said: “The message is clear, please seek pre-application advice prior to undertaken works as the Council does have the power to require the removal of unauthorised works.
“Whilst Council planners aim to work with homeowners, there comes a point when greater, stronger action is required like what has been undertaken in this instance.”
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