An area of land near Saffron Walden must be returned to its original state in just over five months after Essex County Council declared the land has been used to illegally dump waste.

Essex County Council’s Enforcement Notice on land between Great Chesterford and Ickleton served on April 26, takes effect on May 31, unless an appeal is made against it beforehand.

The Enforcement Notice requires the landowner to cease importation of waste materials and aggregates and restore the land to its original condition by October 31.

The order states the developers must "remove from the land any remaining waste materials and aggregates and all plant, equipment and machinery associated with the unauthorised development within five months from the date the Notice takes effect.

"Officers will continue to monitor the site in relation to the Enforcement Notice to ensure compliance."

To the immediate south of the area to which this unauthorised development relates, is another development subject of an Enforcement Notice of which there is an appeal pending.

The extant use of this area is also agricultural. However, this area is currently in use as a recycled aggregate production facility and involves the importation and export of materials by way of HGV and the processing and storage of such material on-site.

Following a site visit in October 2022 the planning authority "considered it expedient to serve a Temporary Stop Notice (TSN), in respect of this northern parcel of land, and require the temporary cessation of the importation, deposition and spreading of waste which was alleged to be taking place".

The temporary stop notice was in force for a 28-day period and was complied with.

In November 2022, the waste planning authority subsequently served a Planning Contravention Notice (PCN) to the landowner and all other interested parties in an attempt to formally establish the nature of the activities on-going.

READ MORE

Responses to the PCNs served were received. However, following a further site in March 2023, the planning authority concluded a material change of use of the land had occurred and that the land was being used for waste and aggregate recycling involving the importation, deposit, spreading and storing of waste and other materials, landraising/creation of bunds and the installation and use of associated plant, equipment, and machinery.

Accordingly, on April 26 2023, the planning authority served an Enforcement Notice.

A statement as part of a report said: "It was expedient to take this action as the unauthorised development is considered incompatible with its countryside setting and is harmful to landscape character and appearance, agricultural land quality and local amenity."