Blind Lane update – November 2025

Chichester District Council secured a permanent injunction from the High Court following unauthorised engineering operations and the
presence of caravans on the land. The permanent injunction was granted by a High Court judge at a hearing on 9 September 2025, which prohibits all new engineering operations and  prevents vehicles and caravans entering and being placed on the site. The judge also
awarded costs of £53,000 to the council. Should any of the defendants in these proceedings breach the terms of the permanent injunction, they may be found to be in contempt of court.

This is a serious matter which attracts a fine, seizure of assets, and/or a term of imprisonment. The hearing had been set on the 14 July 2025, but the judge granted an adjournment until 9 September to allow the defendants to provide further written evidence regarding their personal circumstances. During this time an interim injunction was in place.  In line with an Enforcement Notice issued by the council, the relevant parties are required  to return the land to agricultural use, remove any unauthorised structures, items, vehicles
and caravans, and cease the unauthorised use of the land.  The council was initially made aware of unauthorised works at the site early on Friday 2 May. Planning enforcement officers were sent out immediately to assess the situation, which led to a Temporary Stop Notice being served that day. When this Notice was breached, the council escalated the matter by seeking and securing an interim injunction
from the High Court in London on 9 May 2025. A permanent injunction was then granted at a hearing on 9 September 2025.

View planning enforcement cases – Chichester District Council

Reference: SDNP/25/00168/OPDEV
Alleged Breach: Use of land as Gypsy Traveller site.
Location: Land North of Screechhouse Copse Blind Lane Lurgashall West Sussex GU289EP

Update15July2025

ScreechhouseCopseupdate_June2025

Chichester District Council has produced a series of frequently asked questions and answers for local residents who want to find out more about the action that has been taken: www.chichester.gov.uk/latestnews

The stop notice and enforcement notice are displayed on the following public access link: www.southdowns.gov.uk/planning-applications/enforcement-report-a-breach/planning-enforcement/planning-enforcement-register/partner-authority-notices/

Friday 9th May 2025

Chichester District Council serves injunction following unauthorised works in South Downs National Park

 Chichester District Council has served an injunction on a site near Lurgashall, in the South Downs National Park, following unauthorised engineering operations and the presence of caravans on the land.

The injunction, granted by the High Court, is intended to stop all new engineering operations and to prevent all additional vehicles and caravans entering the site.

“We were made aware of unauthorised works at the site early on Friday 2 May,” said Cllr Adrian Moss, Leader of Chichester District Council.

“Our planning enforcement officers were sent out immediately to assess the site and this led to a Temporary Stop Notice being served that day. However, as this Notice was breached, we have now escalated the matter by seeking and securing an injunction from the High Court in London. This has now been served and prohibits any further unauthorised works or vehicles and caravans entering the site. If a person fails to comply with an injunction this could result in a custodial sentence.

“Planning regulations exist to protect our countryside and communities. Where these are ignored, we will not hesitate to take action.”

The council has also issued an Enforcement Notice. This requires the relevant parties to return the land to agricultural land and to remove any unauthorised structures, items, vehicles and caravans, and to cease unauthorised use of the land.

“We take these matters incredibly seriously. We are taking all of the steps available to us to try and resolve this situation as quickly as we can,” adds Adrian.

The council is engaging with local residents, parish councils, and those currently on the site to offer support, as well as working closely with the South Downs National Park Authority.

The council has produced a series of frequently asked questions and answers for local residents who want to find out more about the action that has been taken and these will be published shortly at: www.chichester.gov.uk/latestnews

Update from Chichester District Council – Tuesday 6th May 2025

We want to let you know that we were made aware of unauthorised engineering operations at a site near Lurgashall, on Friday morning. We immediately sent planning enforcement officers out to assess the site and this led to a temporary stop notice being served that day.

An officer visited the site on Bank Holiday Monday to monitor the situation and to serve a further copy of the temporary stop notice. As the notice has been breached, and caravans entered the site late last night, we are taking further legal steps including seeking an injunction through the courts.

We take these matters incredibly seriously. We have planning rules in place to protect areas of countryside in our district, including the South Downs National Park, and if harmful development is carried out then we will take appropriate enforcement action. We want to assure the community that we are doing everything in our power to respond to this.

Our Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer will also be working with those on the site, local parish councils and the local community to offer support.

We are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you informed of our progress.