Woodland owner ordered to pay fine and demolish 'unlawful' buildings

Last year Stephen Windsor, of Johns Road in Bathwick, told this paper he would fight Wiltshire Council “all the way” after they ordered him to demolish two buildings on his land in Quarry Woods, at Quarry Hill in Box.

Mr Windsor said he had constructed a “welfare area” to make the woods more accessible for disabled people, including a shed equipped with a composting toilet.

But the council has now secured a High Court injunction to push through the demolition of these structures, which were built without planning permission.

At a High Court hearing on April 5, Mr Windsor was ordered to permanently demolish and remove the buildings by May 5.

He was also ordered not to build any further structures on the site and now must pay the council’s costs of £9,880.

The building in Quarry Woods, Box (Image: Wiltshire Council)

Failure to comply with this injunction may result in a fine, imprisonment, or asset seizure.

Mr Windsor was previously found guilty of failing to comply with an enforcement notice ordering him to demolish the buildings in February 2023.

He appealed this decision at Salisbury Crown Court but lost the appeal in July.

At the time of writing, the buildings have not been demolished.

Mr Windsor believed the development did not require planning permission, and said it was the first phase of transforming the wood into a “safe haven” for disabled people.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, explained the construction took place in a protected area that is home to rare bat populations.

Inside the building last summer (Image: Kevin Beadle)

He said: "This injunction shows just how seriously we take contraventions of planning law here in Wiltshire, and I'd like to pay tribute to the tenacity of our planning enforcement team in this case.

"While these buildings may be small, they were constructed without permission in deciduous woodlands with a very high degree of environmental protection.

“The land is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, within the North Wiltshire Greenbelt, and within a Special Area of Conservation.

“It is part of an internationally important site for roosting bats and is home to 10 per cent of the UK population of greater horseshoe bats, which is one of our rarest bat species.

"Our message to anyone considering building without planning permission is clear – we will use all of the legal powers available to us and take enforcement action against breaches of planning regulations in Wiltshire."