Developer fined £150k after unauthorised work on land

A property developer has been fined £150,000 after last week (11 October) pleading guilty to carrying out unauthorised work on land in Barrow.

Mullberry Homes Ltd, a Blackburn-based company, had been served with a Temporary Stop Notice, relating to works it was carrying out at a site in September 2021.

Barrow Borough Council prosecuted the developer when it did not comply with the notice.

After pleading guilty to breaching a Temporary Stop Notice, Mullberry Homes, of 45 Preston New Road, Blackburn, was ordered to pay the £150k fine along with costs of £8470.80 and a court surcharge of £190.00.

Lee Roberts, Deputy Leader of Barrow Borough Council, said: “We hope that this judgment acts as a deterrent for this company and others who may consider acting in a similar manner in the future. Following 12 months of hard work and determination from our officers and legal team in bringing this case to Court, this judgment sends out a strong message.”

The court heard that in September 2021 Mullberry Homes entered land and without planning permission carried out unauthorised works of building and engineering operations namely soil excavation, mounding, regrading of land, deposit of hardcore, creation of hard-surfaced driveways and vehicular access and infilling of voids and associated ground clearance.

The council added that green infrastructure in the form of mature hedgerows “was ripped out and the works had a serious impact on the environment”, which Barrow Borough Council’s policies seek to protect. Several complaints were received from local residents.

Pre-application advice was given to Mullberry Homes in July 2021, despite which works were still undertaken, according to the local authority.

A temporary stop notice was served by the council, however unauthorised works continued which led to prosecution.

The council said that, in addition, an enforcement notice was served requiring the green infrastructure be reinstated, which Mullberry Homes unsuccessfully appealed against in September.

Mullberry Homes has been approached for comment.