The council is launching legal proceedings against the owners of land at White Post Farm, White Post Lane, Sole Street, Cobham, for an alleged breach of a planning enforcement notice on the site.
In August 2023, the council issued an enforcement notice against which stopped the land being used for residential purposes, buildings and vehicles. The land owners were given 12 months to remove all associated items from the site.
The appeal against the enforcement notice was dismissed in February 2025, by the Planning Inspectorate. The owners and occupiers of the site were given until 11 February 2026 to comply with the enforcement notice, unless they occupied part of the site which does have planning permission.
On 12 February, council planning enforcement officers visited the site and found evidence that the enforcement notice had not been complied with.
Cllr John Burden, Leader of Gravesham Borough Council, said: “It is extremely regrettable that the owners and occupants of White Post Farm have failed to comply with the requirements of the enforcement notice.
“Flagrant breaches of planning regulations such as this have significant negative impacts on those living nearby and we will do everything within our powers to protect our communities in instances like this.
“We have made every effort to make the owners and occupiers aware of their obligations and consequences of non-compliance.
“But we have been ignored, and now is the time to take the appropriate legal action.”
Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, the council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Business Development, said: “We understand and share the anger of local residents at the disregard of planning regulations and the failure of the owners and occupiers to fulfil the requirements of the enforcement notice.
“We also share their frustration at how the law restricts the speed of our response to incidents such as this, but we must follow the correct legal procedures every step of the way. To attempt to cut corners risks legal challenge and prolonging the unpleasantness for the local community.”
It is an offence under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 not to comply with an enforcement notice once the period for compliance has elapsed. Any person found guilty of such an offence is liable on conviction to an unlimited fine.