Cambridgeshire County Council’s Planning Committee has been updated on the work of the Enforcement and Monitoring team within the County Planning, Minerals and Waste (CPMW) service, covering the period from 1 January 2025 to 1 September 2025. The report, presented by Bill Field, Principal Enforcement and Monitoring Officer, provides insight into ongoing enforcement cases, monitoring activities, and planning compliance across the county.
Complaints and Investigations
During the reporting period, the CPMW team received 21 new complaints related to potential breaches of planning control, while 11 cases remained from prior investigations, giving a total of 32 complaints under active investigation. Of these:
- Six cases resulted in formal notices being served, three of which are currently subject to appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.
- Eight cases await submission or determination of planning applications to regularise the use of the land.
- Two cases are in the process of legal review before formal enforcement action.
- Ten cases remain under investigation.
Six investigations were closed after either no breach was found, or the breach was remedied following CPMW intervention.
Formal Enforcement Actions
Enforcement Notices (EN) and Breach of Condition Notices (BCN) are key instruments in the Council’s efforts to ensure compliance. Several notable cases include:
- Beats Lodge, Murrow: Following unauthorised waste processing activity, an EN accompanied by a Stop Notice was served on 28 February 2025. Subsequent site visits confirmed cessation of the activity and ongoing restoration efforts.
- Slate Hall Farm, Lolworth: Officers confirmed unauthorised inert waste processing and served an EN on 22 May 2025 following refusal of a planning application. Appeals were lodged against both the EN and the refusal of permission. The Planning Inspectorate has yet to schedule a hearing.
- Dernford Farm, Sawston: After repeated monitoring and reminders regarding bird nesting deterrent measures and aquatic planting, a BCN was served on 15 August 2025. Site inspections on 25 September 2025 confirmed compliance with the bird deterrent requirements.
Appeals
Several enforcement notices are currently under appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, including:
- Sandfield Bungalow, Fen Drayton: A CLEUD was ultimately granted for long-standing waste storage and processing after a protracted appeal.
- Corkers Crisps, Willow Farm, Pymoor: A notice relating to waste uses, including deposit, processing, and export, was served on 16 November 2023, with an appeal lodged on 13 December 2023. CPMW continues to monitor the site in coordination with local district planning teams. Delays in appeal determination have been attributed to Planning Inspectorate backlogs, although officers continue proactive engagement with the appellant.
- The Pig Unit, Harthay Farm, Ellington: Similarly, a notice was served on 5 October 2023, with an appeal lodged 4 November 2023. Delays in determination mirror those of the Corkers Crisps appeal.
Planning Contravention Notices (PCNs)
PCNs were issued to gather information about potential breaches at multiple sites:
- Goslings Drove, Farcet: A PCN served on 12 February 2025 confirmed unauthorised inert waste processing. Enforcement action is anticipated pending legal review.
- Station Quarry, Steeple Morden: Following repeated requests for a restoration scheme, a PCN was served on 5 February 2025. A planning application to address the breach is awaited.
- Old Grain Silo, Flagrass Hill Road, March: Waste importation and processing were confirmed, leading to a PCN served on 8 January 2025. Further enforcement action is under consideration.
- Saxon Pit, Whittlesey: East Midlands Waste Management (EMW) has been processing Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) and metal recycling at Saxon Pit without planning permission. CPMW received complaints in May 2025 regarding the proximity of operations to a lagoon discharging into the Kings Dyke water course and potential dust and environmental impacts. A PCN was served on 21 July 2025 and returned on 22 August 2025. While unauthorised metal processing has temporarily ceased, joint investigations with the Environment Agency remain ongoing.
The Saxon Pit case has drawn particular attention due to its environmental and amenity impacts. The site’s activities involve potentially contaminating materials processed in the open, close to watercourses, raising concerns about dust, surface water contamination, and impacts on nearby residents.
CPMW officers are working with the Environment Agency to ensure environmental standards are met and to assess whether further enforcement action is required.
Proactive Site Monitoring
Between 1 January and 1 September 2025, the Authority carried out proactive monitoring visits to quarries, landfill sites, waste transfer stations, recycling sites, and other facilities with planning conditions. Chargeable visits generated approximately £31,000 in income for the current financial year. The visits aim to ensure compliance with permissions and environmental requirements, with a risk-based approach applied to non-chargeable sites.
Summary of Notable Cases
A brief overview of significant enforcement actions and monitoring highlights includes:
- Beats Lodge, Murrow: EN and Stop Notice served, compliance confirmed.
- Slate Hall Farm, Lolworth: EN served, appeal lodged, monitoring ongoing.
- Dernford Farm, Sawston: BCN served, bird deterrents installed.
- Sandfield Bungalow, Fen Drayton: Appeal resolved, CLEUD granted.
- Corkers Crisps, Pymoor: EN under appeal, monitoring ongoing.
- The Pig Unit, Ellington: EN under appeal, monitoring ongoing.
- Goslings Drove, Farcet: PCN served, enforcement action pending.
- Station Quarry, Steeple Morden: PCN served, awaiting restoration scheme submission.
- Old Grain Silo, March: PCN served, enforcement action under review.
- Saxon Pit, Whittlesey: PCN served, metal processing without planning permission, joint EA investigation ongoing.
Focus on Saxon Pit and Corkers Crisps
The Saxon Pit and Corkers Crisps sites are emblematic of the challenges faced by CPMW in balancing industrial operations, environmental protection, and local amenity. At Saxon Pit, unauthorised processing of IBA and metal recycling highlighted the risks of dust, water contamination, and community impact. Officers continue to liaise with the Environment Agency to mitigate these risks while considering further formal enforcement measures.
At Corkers Crisps, ongoing waste deposition, processing, and export remain subject to appeal, with CPMW maintaining oversight to ensure no escalation of unauthorised activity occurs. Both sites demonstrate the complexity of enforcement in Cambridgeshire, particularly when legal appeals and agency backlogs delay resolution.
Looking Forward
The Planning Committee has been invited to provide feedback on the report’s format and content and to suggest additional information for future updates. The Enforcement and Monitoring team continues to monitor all active sites, engage with operators, and collaborate with other regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with planning and environmental laws.
The Cambridgeshire County Council report underscores the authority’s commitment to upholding planning controls, protecting local amenity, and safeguarding the environment, while highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by unauthorised waste and mineral operations.
