Chichester District Council v Sullivan & Ors (Rev 1) [2020] EWHC 2154 (QB) (05 August 2020)

Chichester District Council v Sullivan & Ors (Rev 1) [2020] EWHC 2154 (QB) (05 August 2020)

Given the extensive, intentional, and ongoing breaches of planning control on a protected site, the failure of all other enforcement measures, and the Claimant's consideration of personal circumstances and human rights, the grant of a permanent injunction is necessary and proportionate. The impact of the pandemic does not outweigh the compelling need for enforcement, though compliance periods should be extended to mitigate hardship, especially for families with children and pregnant women.

Citation
[2020] EWHC 2154
Parties
Claimant: Chichester District Council; Defendant: James Cornelius Sullivan; Defendant: William Hughes; Defendant: George Eddie Smith; Defendant: Karla Smith; Defendant: Nancy Smith; Defendant: Ruby Smith; Defendant: Fraser Sibley; Defendant: Ross Alan Bridger; Defendant: Gemma Creighton; Defendant: Wayne Goddard; Defendant: George Smith (Junior); Defendant: Kimberley Goddard; Defendant: Glenn Henry George Keet; Defendant: Kathy Boyden; Defendant: Daniel Hughes; Defendant: Josie Louise Hughes; Defendant: Michael John Cooper; Defendant: Bonnie Hughes; Defendant: Della Sullivan; Defendant: Wayne Smith; Defendant: Fred Albert Smith; Defendant: Mark Goddard; Defendant: April Lamb; Defendant: Henry Ben Giles; Defendant: Gary Hopkins; Defendant: Caroline Goddard; Defendant: Katie Keet; Defendant: Persons Unknown
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
05 August 2020
Procedural Posture
Claim for Permanent Injunction Under Section 187 B Town and Country Planning Act 1990 / Final Hearing of Injunction Application
Outcome
Permanent injunction granted with extended compliance periods
Legal Topics
Injunctions, Enforcement of Planning Control, Article 8 ECHR, Article 1 Protocol 1 ECHR, Equality Act 2010, Proportionality, Gypsy and Traveller Rights, COVID 19 Impact on Enforcement
Planning Law Human Rights Law Administrative Law Injunctions Enforcement of Planning Control Article 8 ECHR Article 1 Protocol 1 ECHR Equality Act 2010 +3 more

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Parties

Chichester District Council

Claimant

James Cornelius Sullivan

Defendant

William Hughes

Defendant

George Eddie Smith

Defendant

Karla Smith

Defendant

Nancy Smith

Defendant

Ruby Smith

Defendant

Fraser Sibley

Defendant

Ross Alan Bridger

Defendant

Gemma Creighton

Defendant

Wayne Goddard

Defendant

George Smith (Junior)

Defendant

Kimberley Goddard

Defendant

Glenn Henry George Keet

Defendant

Kathy Boyden

Defendant

Daniel Hughes

Defendant

Josie Louise Hughes

Defendant

Michael John Cooper

Defendant

Bonnie Hughes

Defendant

Della Sullivan

Defendant

Wayne Smith

Defendant

Fred Albert Smith

Defendant

Mark Goddard

Defendant

April Lamb

Defendant

Henry Ben Giles

Defendant

Gary Hopkins

Defendant

Caroline Goddard

Defendant

Katie Keet

Defendant

Persons Unknown

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Claim for Permanent Injunction Under Section 187 B Town and Country Planning Act 1990 / Final Hearing of Injunction Application

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether a permanent injunction should be granted to restrain breaches of planning control on land occupied by gypsy/traveller families
  2. 2 Whether the grant of an injunction is a proportionate interference with Article 8 ECHR and Article 1 Protocol 1 rights
  3. 3 Whether the COVID-19 pandemic justifies refusal or delay of a mandatory injunction

Ratio Decidendi

Given the extensive, intentional, and ongoing breaches of planning control on a protected site, the failure of all other enforcement measures, and the Claimant's consideration of personal circumstances and human rights, the grant of a permanent injunction is necessary and proportionate. The impact of the pandemic does not outweigh the compelling need for enforcement, though compliance periods should be extended to mitigate hardship, especially for families with children and pregnant women.

Court Disposition

Permanent injunction granted with extended compliance periods

Orders

  • Defendants restrained from further unauthorised development or bringing caravans/living accommodation onto the site without written approval.
  • Defendants required to remove caravans, mobile homes, and associated domestic infrastructure and restore the site to agricultural grassland.