A High Court injunction has been secured to halt unauthorised earthworks at a wildlife site in Sawbridgeworth after diggers tore through the field over the Bank Holiday weekend. Hundreds of residents gathered at the site off Sheering Mill Lane on Sunday to protest against the work, which began on Saturday 29 August 2026. According to East Hertfordshire District Council, a Temporary Stop Notice was served shortly after 10:45am on Saturday, with an interim injunction secured at approximately 10:30pm that same day.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing diggers excavating the field and truck-loads of material being delivered to the location. East Hertfordshire District Council, which had closed its offices for the Bank Holiday just hours before work commenced, ordered operations to cease at approximately 22:30 BST. Despite the court order, a reporter visiting the scene on Sunday observed that work was continuing, with an estimated 400 local residents present to voice their opposition.
Council staff became aware of the unauthorised digging—which lacked planning permission—on Saturday morning after residents reported the activity. The interim injunction temporarily blocked further development on the land, prevented the bringing of caravans on-site, and banned anyone from occupying the plot. According to the council's statement, its planning enforcement team is continuing to monitor and investigate the circumstances of the unauthorised works.
Why are residents so concerned about the site?
Local residents have highlighted the ecological and hydrological importance of the field. The site has been identified as a habitat for muntjac deer and contains a rich ecosystem that supports diverse wildlife. Amy Panter, 19, a nearby resident, expressed particular concern about the loss of the field's function as a natural floodplain.
Every loophole has been lined up and exploited and it's quite frustrating for those of us affected,she said, fearing that without the field her own home would be at increased risk of flooding.
Nigel Blake, 71, an amateur wildlife photographer who has documented the site extensively, described his emotional attachment to the location.
I'm heartbroken... I've always been loyal to this place because I know it off by heart,he said. Josh Dean, the Labour MP for Hertford and Stortford, warned that the land would be
decimated and replaced with concreteif the development proceeded, and noted that constituents were
deeply concernedabout what was unfolding.
What role did the fencing company play?
Harlow Fencing, which supplied materials to the site, stated that it halted all deliveries after concerns were raised at approximately 09:00 on Saturday. In a statement, the company said it
was led to believe the site was a legitimate new-build development and supplied materials in good faith.The company also noted that
misinformationcirculating online had resulted in personal comments being directed at its staff members.
Is this part of a wider pattern?
The Sawbridgeworth incident represents the latest in a series of unauthorised development projects that have commenced over Bank Holiday weekends across the region. In April 2026, an illegal camp was established on green belt land in Flamstead, prompting investigation by Dacorum Borough Council. In May 2026, a field near Braintree in Essex was illegally concreted over at Willows Green. According to East Herts Council's planning records, the authority had dealt with a similar situation at the Sheering Mill Lane site previously, with parts of an earlier interim order suspended for six weeks to allow occupants time to vacate.
Hertfordshire Police confirmed it was
aware of a dispute over the useof the field and maintained a presence at the site throughout the weekend.
What happens next?
The council has advised that any further activity at the site should be reported to its planning enforcement team, indicating that continued monitoring and potential additional enforcement action will follow rather than a fixed court hearing date being set immediately. The interim injunction remains in place pending further legal proceedings.
Key Facts
- An interim High Court injunction was secured on 29 August 2026 at approximately 10:30pm to halt unauthorised works at land off Sheering Mill Lane in Sawbridgeworth
- The injunction prohibits further development, the arrival of additional caravans, service connections and occupation of the site
- Approximately 400 residents attended the site on Sunday to protest against the unauthorised earthworks
- The field serves as a natural floodplain and wildlife habitat supporting muntjac deer and other species
- This is the latest in a series of unauthorised developments that have commenced over Bank Holiday weekends in Hertfordshire and Essex
