Key cases
Land adjacent Homefield, Green Street Green Road, Longfield:
After receiving reports on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 that there had been a suspected breach of planning control at land adjacent to Homefield, Green Street Green Road, over the Bank Holiday weekend, Planning Enforcement officers visited the site in the morning and afternoon the same day.
Unauthorised development had occurred in the form of the laying of hardsurfacing across the majority of the approximately 1000 square metre site as well as the storage of a small touring caravan. Officers responded quickly by serving a Temporary Stop Notice (TSN) to prevent any further such development and require the removal of the touring caravan from the site.
The TSN takes effect immediately and the Council has 56 days in which to take further formal action if it is deemed necessary to do so. Officers will continue to monitor the site. Any reports of further activity or potential breaches of planning control at the site should be report it to us via the report a breach page linked above, quoting enforcement reference 26/00098/ENF.
Hawkspare, Green Street Green Road, DA2 8DX - 23/00184/ENF
On 9th August 2024 following a complex and lengthy investigation into an alleged breach of planning control on the land at Hawkspare Yard, Green Street Green, DA2 8DP, the Council’s Planning Enforcement Team served an Enforcement Notice on 28 persons and companies with an identified interest in the land. Hawkspare Yard covers an area measuring approximately 4.8 hectares, falls within Green Belt, a designated public right of way traverses the middle of the site which is set close to historic assets and a scheduled ancient monument.
This enforcement action follows on from complaints from residents and Councillors of light pollution, noise, traffic and the environmental impacts generated by an industrial use.
The notice alleges without planning permission, the material change of use of the land to a mixed use involving:
- plant hire depot for purposes of crane hire, sales, maintenance and storage
- various storage compounds
- a printing business
- general haulage businesses
- a scaffolding yard
- scaffolding sales
- a construction engineering yard together with associated development that facilitates the material change of use, including the levelling of land, laying of concrete slabs and hardcore, the erection of multiple scaffolding structures, siting of multiple site offices, buildings, containers, tanks and toilets, erection of retaining wall, fences and entrance gate and the siting of containers and concrete blocks; and
- without planning permission, the rebuilding of a barn associated with a haulage business and the erection of a metal structure associated with the printing business.
Considering expediency to enforce and all material considerations, the reasons for issuing the notice are set out as being the material change of use and operational developments have occurred within the last 10 years, it constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt with no very special circumstances being demonstrated that clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt. The unauthorised and unacceptable spread and intensification causes injury to the character and appearance of the area, harm to the residential amenities of the current and future occupants and amenities of the users of the Public Right of Way by reason of visual harm, noise, disturbance, light pollution and associated increase in vehicular movements. The use therefore conflicts with local and national policies.
The notice requires that within a period of 9 months of the notice taking effect on 13th September to cease the use of all elements of the mixed use of the land identified at i – vi , to remove all structures, buildings, containers, boundary treatment and sub-division of the land and associated development that facilitates the material change of use within areas identified on the aerial image attached to the notice. Demolish buildings identified and remove debris arising from compliance.
Two of the recipients of the enforcement notice submitted appeals on six grounds and a Public Inquiry took place in January 2025. This has now concluded and the Council were successful in defending the appeal on all grounds except the period of time for compliance which was extended from 9 to 12 months.
If you would like a copy of the appeal decision, please email planning.enforcement@dartford.gov.uk
Land North of Powder Mill Lane (East of Greenbanks) - Site Clearance and Fencing
A number of residents have contacted us regarding the clearance of vegetation and erection of fences and a new gate at this site. Planning Enforcement Officers have visited the site and a new case has been set up under reference 24/00114/ENF. Whilst there is an active enforcement investigation, only limited information can be shared with residents at this stage. However, we have noted that the vast majority of the trees within the site have not, at the time of writing, been removed.
Planning permission was granted for 77 dwellings across 2 sites (A and B) in May 2001 under planning reference: 00/00353/FUL. Site A was built out in approximately 2003-2008 and is accessed off Hawley Road. Development has not started at site B which would involve the erection of 36 dwellings, a small play area and a car park for fisherman’s use. This application can be viewed via Public Access.
This planning permission, as with any other planning permission, does not require development to be completed by a set date. It is therefore possible for site B to be developed under the historic 2001 planning permission at any time now or in the future. This has been confirmed by a Lawful Development Certificate granted by the Council in 2020 (reference 20/01004/LDC). However, this is subject to various planning conditions being met, including details of any tree removal and tree protection, contaminated land and drainage. There is also a legal agreement obligating the developer to undertaken certain requirements which will also need to be adhered to.
Please note that any potential harm to protected wildlife does not fall within the remit of the planning department in this case. Any concerns in this respect should be reported to Kent Police.
On February 18, 2026, Council officers responded to reports of unauthorised access and flytipping on the land that took place during the evening of Tuesday February 17. The persons on the land at the time have since left. The landowner has been contacted and remedial measures to include a 24 hour security presence with immediate effect have been arranged. Other measures such as enhanced protection of vehicular access gates, extension of the hoarding around the entire perimeter of the site and installation of CCTV are also expected to be provided. The landowner is also aware of the urgent need to clear the unauthorised waste deposits from the land.
Please report any potential planning breaches in respect of this land via our online reporting system.