Hillingdon Council has successfully prosecuted a local property development company for failing to complete works.

Hodson Developments Ltd., was granted planning permission, subject to conditions, in October 2007 to build three detached properties. The conditions imposed upon the Northwood based company included widening High Elms Close, Northwood for highway safety reasons and reinstating road surfaces and street lighting. The company breached the conditions of the planning permission by failing to complete the restoration work at High Elms Close.


Hillingdon Council's planning team issued the company with a breach of condition notice on 2 March 2010 and again on 13 April 2010, requiring the developers to finish the highway works. The developers failed to comply with the notices, giving the council no alternative but to prosecute.

The case was heard at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on 30 March 2011. Hodson Developments Ltd., were found guilty and ordered to pay the council's full costs and the maximum fine of £1,000 for each of the notices, totalling costs of £5699.53.

Councillor Keith Burrows, Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling, said: "Hodson Developments Ltd. posed a health and safety risk to residents by failing to meet the terms of the planning permission and breaching the notices served. The court has ordered the company to pay the maximum fine as well as the council's full costs sending out a strong message, which should hopefully deter anyone else in the borough from breaching planning regulations."

(CD/GK)