Two people from Snapper have been handed suspended prison sentences for continued failure to comply with a planning enforcement notice.
Garry Braund and Tina Thorne pleaded guilty to four breaches of failing to comply with an enforcement notice at a hearing at Exeter County Court on Tuesday, 24 March.
The pair were initially served a planning enforcement notice in December 2016 when it was found land at Honey Hill was being used as a residence with caravans and sheds, and a vehicle access had been constructed which entered the road on a blind bend.
Despite repeated warnings, opportunities to comply, and previous court involvement, the breaches persisted for approximately nine years. Over that time the unauthorised development intensified, including the expansion of residential use, additional structures, and the creation of an underground dwelling.
It was found that Braund and Thorne's actions amounted to persistent and deliberate non-compliance. They were sentenced to 42 days in prison, suspended for 12 months, on the condition that they do not resume occupation at the land and do not take further steps to reverse compliance with the enforcement notice.
They were also ordered to pay £8,088 in costs for three recent hearings. In total, the council has secured cumulative costs of more than £30,000, which are now being pursued through charging orders against the land.
Councillor Malcolm Prowse, Lead Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Planning at North Devon Council, said: "Planning regulations are in place to ensure our natural environment is protected for the benefit of all our residents, and this court action demonstrates our commitment to upholding them.
"I would like to thank the officers who have spent so much time ensuring this protracted case has reached its necessary conclusion. It shows we will persist in taking enforcement action, even where cases are complex or involve difficult parties, to protect our communities and uphold the planning system.”
More information on planning compliance and how to report a concern can be found on the council's website.