A council has prosecuted a developer for the second time over a 20-year project to transform an abandoned hospital.

Harriss Property Ltd was responsible for the Royal Sea Bathing Hospital development in Margate.

Thanet District Council (TDC) accused the firm and its boss John Harriss of failing to comply with planning enforcement notices.

It served the company with a Section 215 notice in August 2019 and two breach of condition notices in November 2020.

They all related to Harriss failing to complete landscaping work on the site.

The first case was heard at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court in January 2022 where the district judge ordered Harriss Property Ltd to pay fines, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £2,240.

The second prosecution was brought because, following the first court ruling, Harriss Property Ltd made no attempt to complete the landscaping work, the council says.

TDC states the outside area of the development remains unfinished and residents do not have access to a communal green space.

Temporary metal steps and railings are still in place and the courtyard is devoid of any greenery.

The second case was heard at the same court earlier this week where Mr Harriss entered a guilty plea.

A judge imposed further fines of £3,250, a victim surcharge of £1,300 and costs of £9,173.86, to be paid within 28 days of sentencing.

This brings the total fines imposed on the developer to just under £16,000.

TDC says the prosecution was brought against Mr Harriss as he had failed to carry out the requirements of his planning permission.

He had also let the Grade II listed former laundry building fall into a serious state of disrepair, the authority says.

Cllr Rick Everitt, leader and the portfolio holder for planning said: “Residents can be confident that we will look to take formal enforcement action where developers fail to carry out the conditions of their planning permission.

“The residents of Charlotte Court will continue to suffer from the developer’s failure to landscape the area, until the requirements of the breach of condition notices are carried out.

“These should have been completed before anyone moved into the property.”

Harriss Property Ltd will be advised to comply with the enforcement notices to avoid the council taking further action through the Magistrates’ Court.