Perfect Pitch Planning Ltd, on behalf of Mr P Doran, has submitted a retrospective planning application for the change of use of the land north east of Church Road to “traveller occupation”.
Planning documents reveal that this site includes six static homes, six touring caravans and six day rooms or “amenity buildings”, arranged in two rows.
Also included in the plans are 12 parking spaces, as well as hard and soft landscaping.
While the application is described as part retrospective, it does not make it clear how many of the caravans have been erected already – but does note that the work started on November 28.
The following day, the Recorder received multiple calls from concerned residents after sightings of large lorries, diggers and machinery at the field opposite Church Road.
Havering Council’s planning enforcement team later carried out an investigation, concluding with the issuing of a stop notice and two enforcement notices.
These alleged that mobile homes and touring caravans have been stationed on the green belt land without planning permission – “devastating” the character of the area – but did not specify how many.
Recipients of the notice have until January 16 to lodge an appeal, or if not must remove all caravans, fencing and building materials by March 16.
Havering Council leader Cllr Ray Morgon previously said the cabinet was “disappointed and shocked” to see the unlawful work taking place on private land.
After the notices were served, he told the Recorder: “Thanks to the swift actions of our teams, I am pleased to confirm that planning enforcement and stop notices were served at the site on Thursday afternoon (December 4).
“The notices require the travellers to stop all work on the land, remove everything that was brought onto it and to restore it to its former condition.”
He added that the council will continue to seek legal advice about next steps.
The council is expected to make a decision on the retrospective application by February 4.
