West Berkshire District Council v UK Land Holdings 1 Ltd & Ors

Facts

West Berkshire District Council, the local planning authority, brought proceedings concerning land south of Reading Road, Aldermaston, after reports in late August 2025 of suspicious activity suggesting development. On 3 November 2025 the Council received a planning application for 13 pitches, and on 4 November a Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, Fenella Woods, served a Temporary Stop Notice requiring works to cease. Work did not stop. On 18 December 2025, on a without notice application, Cotter J granted an interim injunction ("the First Order") prohibiting use of the Land for human habitation, bringing items onto it and building structures, save for the single family in occupation; it was served on site on 19 December. At an inter partes hearing on 12 January 2026 Tim Moloney KC, sitting as a deputy High Court Judge, continued those terms until the final hearing or further order. The first Defendant was the original owner; the second to 13th Defendants were named on an invalid planning application dated 31 October 2025, and further defendants were added as interests emerged. Sixteen further planning applications received on 26 May 2026 were all invalid, and an Enforcement Notice was served on 22 May 2026. The represented Defendants applied to vary the First Order so that their occupation would not be prohibited.