Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Council closes case over woodland site with permission until 2029
Hertsmere Council has closed its enforcement case over a site near St Albans in Hertfordshire where woodland was cleared and the ground paved.
The Government’s Planning Inspectorate granted five years of temporary planning permission in 2024, after an appeal based on a mother’s need for a settled home near a specialist school for her child.
The permission said only the mother’s family could live there and required the woodland to be restored by 2029.
Residents say they have not seen the family at the site and believe it is being used by other people, but those claims are not confirmed.
The council says changes to national planning policy mean it can take no further action over conditions limiting who may live there or how long permission lasts.
Residents described the decision as upsetting and said they believe the site is being used as a dumping ground.
The permission remains in place until 2029, with woodland restoration required by that year.
Hertsmere Council says it will close its enforcement case over a woodland site near St Albans because changes to national planning policy mean it can take no further action.
The site was granted five years of temporary planning permission by the Planning Inspectorate in 2024, with permission lasting until 2029.
The permission required the woodland to be restored by 2029 and said only Theresa Lane’s family could live there.
Residents say the family has not been seen at the site and describe the council’s decision as devastating.
- Who
- Hertsmere Council and residents near the site are involved. The land was granted planning permission for Theresa Lane’s family.
- What
- The council is closing its enforcement case over the woodland site.
- When
- The council sent residents a letter this week; the article was published on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- A site near St Albans in Hertfordshire, beside Bridgefoot Cottages.
- Why
- The council says changes to national policy mean restrictions limiting permission to specific people or a temporary period are no longer required.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Travellers arrived at the land and felled trees, after which the site was paved over.
The Planning Inspectorate granted five years of temporary permission for the site.
The permission requires the woodland to be restored.
Hertsmere Council told residents it would close its enforcement case.
- Location
- Site near St Albans, Hertfordshire
- Permission granted
- Five years of temporary planning permission in 2024
- Permission expires
- 2029
- Restoration deadline
- Woodland to be restored by 2029
- Council action
- Enforcement case to be closed
What people are saying
unlikely that conditions restricting (planning) permission to temporary or personal planning permissions would meet the condition tests, as changes to national policy mean that the need to restrict this development to being a personal and temporary permission is no longer required
devastating news