Landowners have been ordered to remove an unauthorised scrap yard following a decision by the Planning Inspectorate.

Medway Council initially issued an enforcement notice ordering the removal of waste, hardstanding and buildings at The Woodlands in Hempstead Road, Hempstead, in March 2022.

An appeal was subsequently lodged against the decision, and following a site visit last October, the Planning Inspectorate has now issued a new ruling.

This upholds most elements of the original notice while allowing one residential caravan to remain on the site.

The new ruling maintains that the scrap business activity and other residential occupation must end on the site and a mixture of trees should be planted.

Cllr Simon Curry, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, said: “I welcome the decision from the Planning Inspectorate, which follows a long process and much hard work on behalf of our officers.

“It is important we show that unauthorised development will not be tolerated and that we are prepared to act against those who ignore planning law.”