A landowner who erected an "expanse of man-made structures" including a caravan and a chicken coop on protected woodland has been ordered to clear the site.

Unauthorised work and tree felling was first reported in Fowler's Stone Wood in April 2020 and led to a High Court hearing which ruled the development was illegal.

The owners had stationed caravans and mobile homes on the plot of land off Harvel Road, near Vigo Village without the relevant planning permissions.

A timber climbing frame, trampoline, plastic shed, chicken coop, gates and fencing were also found without authorisation.

Gravesham council was granted an interim injunction by the High Court at the start of May 2020 preventing work on the land, which is deemed an “irreplaceable habitat” and sits within the Metropolitan Green Belt and the Meopham Down Special Landscape Area.

It is also covered by a Woodland Tree Preservation Order.

Months later complaints were made over noise and smoke from bonfires at the site.

A retrospective application for the development followed but this was refused by the council.

In the authority's application for a final order, which was subsequently granted under mounting pressure to enforce the High Court ruling, the owners were required to remove buildings, other structures and associated material from the land.

But landowner Gareth Daniel Sullivan admitted breaching the injunction and is currently serving a year-long sentence after being jailed at the High Court last year.

Speaking after the hearing, Gravesham council leader Cllr John Burden, said the case had "caused great distress, anger and frustration for local people", as well as for council members and officers.

He said: "The fact that Sullivan is now behind bars highlights the seriousness of his actions and is testament to the diligent work of our enforcement officers and legal team, aided in no small part by our local members, residents and the parish council."

The council has now served an enforcement notice on the site ordering the owners again to remove all vehicles, mobile homes, caravan, machinery, lighting and CCTV.

The enforcement notice will take effect from March 3 unless an appeal is made against it beforehand.

After this time the owners will be given four months to action the request.

The site is still subject to a planning appeal following the council's refusal of the retrospective planning bid.

It received objections from Kent Wildlife Trust, The Woodland Trust, Meopham and Vigo Parish Councils, and neighbouring properties.

The Planning Inspectorate has decided that the appeal will be heard by way of a public inquiry.

This is scheduled to start on May 3 with provisional dates for the hearing scheduled across four days.