In the evening of Friday 28 August we were made aware of unauthorised development commencing at Hares Farm in South Warnborough, following reports from local residents. Heavy vehicles and construction materials had entered the site, which does not have planning permission for any development.
Our response
Officers worked throughout Saturday securing a barrister and preparing an urgent request for an injunction to legally demand a stop to the work. The court’s order was provided to the Council just after 10pm on Saturday 29 August and served on the landowner and other persons shortly after 10.30am on Sunday 30 August.
This injunction means that from that point in time, no further development should have carried on without the benefit of planning permission. It included the prevention of the importation of further materials, mobile homes or caravans onto the site and denied the occupation of any caravan or mobile home already on the land.
Over the Bank Holiday weekend, Hart District Council officers visited and inspected the site, and collected evidence that work was continuing in breach of the injunction served. Since then, more evidence of further works and of the occupation of the site has been gathered.
We have continued to work closely with legal counsel and the police to collate this evidence in preparation for submission to the courts. We also continue to work with ward councillors and those affected as the situation develops.
We are following the best legal advice appropriate to this particular case. While other councils are dealing with seemingly similar situations in other ways, each case is unique and the action undertaken on other sites may not be possible in this instance.
Next steps
We understand this development is distressing for local residents and may cause concern among members of our community. We are taking all the necessary steps to tackle this unauthorised development but do need to follow the statutory processes that apply. We do not have the power to act outside of these legal frameworks.
The Council's injunction was maintained in the High Court on Monday 7 September. The defendants have a right in law to seek a variation, but that would have to be heard in the same way. The Council will now re-serve the confirmed order on the site and its occupants. It will then set about enforcing the order and taking all appropriate actions to secure compliance.
It is likely that the Council will pursue contempt of court proceedings. That action would be supported by the evidence gathered since the Order was served, demonstrating that the injunction has been breached.
The Council continues to follow the best legal advice to ensure the Council takes the most robust action possible. The objective is to secure vacation of the site and to address the unauthorized works.
We will update this page with further information and what happens next as these proceedings develop.
While members of our community are keen to help, the Council are leading on this action. Residents shouldn't put themselves in any situation where harm or confrontation could arise. Any criminal activity or threatening behaviour should be reported to the police.
Page updated: Tuesday 08 September 2026 at 5pm