Lancaster firm ordered to pay more than £37,000 after admitting planning breach

A Nether Kellet based company has been ordered by a court to pay more than £37,000 after failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice.

Addington Investments Ltd, of Addington Road, Nether Kellet, was ordered to pay a fine of £28,000, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and the city council’s full costs at a recent sentencing hearing, following a matter relating to the unauthorised erection of five grain silos and supporting frames.

The case was brought after Addington Investments Ltd ignored a planning enforcement notice issued in 2021. The notice required the removal of the grain silos and frames at Lower Addington Farm, which had been constructed without planning permission and were deemed to have an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the local landscape.

Although the company lodged an appeal, the enforcement notice was upheld, and the owners were instructed to dismantle the structures, remove all materials from the site, and restore the land to a clean and tidy condition.

When compliance was not achieved, the council initiated prosecution proceedings. A representative from the company pleaded guilty to the offence last October, with the hearing adjourned until May 21 2025 for sentencing.

Councillor Sue Tyldesley, cabinet member with responsibility for planning, said: “This case demonstrates the importance of securing the necessary planning permission before undertaking any form of development.

“It also shows that the council will take firm action where there are clear and unresolved breaches of planning control. Our enforcement officers are committed to ensuring the planning system is upheld and that those who ignore the rules are held accountable.

“The level of the fine should act as a strong deterrent to others who may consider bypassing planning regulations.”

The unauthorised silos and associated structures have now been removed from the site.

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