NEWS: Builders prosecuted and fined for repeatedly breaching planning permission in Richmond
A construction firm has been convicted and fined £15,000 after Richmond Council took them to court for breaching planning permission conditions for the private redevelopment of Richmond Royal Hospital.
Cllr Julia Neden-Watts, Chair of Richmond Council’s Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sport Committee, said:
“We don’t tolerate behaviours like this from developers or their contractors in Richmond upon Thames. New homes are very important for our borough, but they must come with minimal disruption to the existing community – that is why we have planning regulations and are able to apply conditions to planning permission.
“I’m pleased we have been successful in court and I hope this serves to demonstrate how seriously we take breaches of our planning consents.”
Planning permission for the development, a mixed-use building comprising 71 homes (15 affordable) and a ground floor space for health services, was granted on condition of compliance with a Construction Management Plan, which set out how construction should take place to minimise disruption to neighbours and the local road network.
Henry Construction Ltd started work on site in January 2021 and the Council began to receive reports of the designated access route not being followed, as well as other breaches of the management plan.
Despite repeated warnings and meetings with Council officials, Henry Construction Ltd continued to breach the plan, leading to the Council serving a formal Breach of Condition Notice on them in February 2022. On the 20th June 2023 Henry Construction Projects Ltd was convicted, in absence, for six instances of breaching the notice, fined the maximum amount of £15,000 and ordered to pay the Council’s costs.
