DEVELOPERS in Yate have been prosecuted after breaching planning rules and have received a £10,000 fine - one of the highest fines given out for non-compliance with a notice served by South Gloucestershire Council in the past 10 years.


The council prosecuted GMT Developments (UK) Limited, who were fined £10,000 plus costs after pleading guilty to breaching planning rules.


Prosecutions were brought against both the property developer and its site manager, Russell Davies, for failing to comply with a Temporary Stop Notice that was served on land adjacent to 328 North Road.


Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were heard at Yate Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 17.


GMT Developments (UK) Limited were fined £10,000 and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £1,395.69 along with a £120 victim surcharge, while Davies was fined £500 along with a £50 victim surcharge.


These prosecutions follow a Temporary Stop Notice and court injunction recently issued against GMT Developments (UK) Limited.


The notice, served on March 11 required activity at the development to stop immediately, however enforcement officers secured evidence of ongoing work taking place in breach of the notice for several days after it was issued.


The injunction, which is the strongest planning enforcement power, was issued by Bristol County Court on March 27 and required all work to stop immediately on the site.

After the terms of the injunction order were agreed in court, South Gloucestershire Council were also awarded £3,500 in legal costs from the defendants.


An interim injunction had previously been granted on March 23.