Image of the developer clearing land at Shepherds Close, Metropolitan Open Land, in breach of statutory protections and the restrictive covenant’s 20-foot buffer zone—without a properly registered Section 211 notice or council approval of planning permission.

Shepherds Close, Metropolitan Open Land next to Parkland Walk, faces active destruction and planning blight.

• The developer has illegally felled 19 mature trees in a Conservation Area—without a properly registered Section 211 notice, and with no restoration attempted. Under Section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, tree works in a Conservation Area without a properly registered notice are unlawful. 
• The developer’s refusal to submit notice deprived the council, statutory bodies, and residents of their legal rights to object and intervene.
• The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 now extends council enforcement powers to ten years for unauthorised planning breaches—meaning the council must act even for works carried out several years ago.

Despite repeated requests from Haringey Council, the developer failed to submit a legally required registered Section 211 notice before removing trees in the Conservation Area at Shepherds Close. No registered notice was sent, depriving all statutory bodies, the council, and residents of due process.

Metropolitan Open Land is NOT infill or brownfield. After the railway line closed (passenger service in 1954, goods in 1970), all tracks and buildings were removed, with no record of garages or permanent structures since. Historic proposals for roads and housing have been defeated by community and policy action.

The £2m “self-build” scheme and the developer’s claims of prior development are misleading and unsupported by the historic and planning record.

• Legal and ecological protections are being blatantly ignored. An unauthorised fence was constructed within the 20ft buffer zone protected by a restrictive 1954 covenant—no approval, direct breach. The restrictive covenant’s 20ft buffer remains legally binding—work and fencing within this zone violate both planning and property law, requiring restoration and removal.
• Repeated clearance suppresses regrowth and destroys habitat, with manipulated biodiversity figures used to conceal loss. Genuine Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) baselines must be set by the council, using independent ecological data and pre-clearance conditions—not developer-supplied figures. Baselines based on already-damaged land risk legitimising harm and must be rejected. If the developer removed the limestone chippings and weed barrier, nature would do what it does best.

The developer continues to submit new planning applications—often piecemeal and retrospective—causing planning blight and undermining community trust. Granting any permission now could enable the developer to exploit Non-Material Amendments (NMA), introducing further harmful changes with minimal oversight.

Historic resilience matters. Parkland Walk and Shepherds Close have survived decades of closure, demolition, and development threats—including failed road and housing projects. Their preservation is due to continued community advocacy and strong policy protections.

 
Call to Action
Send your objections and evidence—however late—to Haringey Council’s planning and enforcement teams (Ref: HGY2025/1552), urging them to halt further applications and enforce the restoration and protection of Shepherds Close and Parkland Walk. Objections and evidence can still be submitted while applications are live—your input remains vital whether you are a resident, community member, or statutory body.

Click LINK  https://publicregister.haringey.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iTu000001F6anIAC/hgy20251552?c__r=Arcus_BE_Public_Register&tabset-3892f=2

 
Shepherds Close & Parkland Walk - Summary of Issues (August 2025)
Unauthorised Works and Environmental Harm
The developer illegally felled 19 mature trees in a Conservation Area without submitting a registered Section 211 notice, depriving statutory bodies and the public of their right to review, object, or enforce protection. No restoration or replanting has occurred; ongoing clearance and active suppression of regrowth have escalated ecological harm. Biodiversity data submitted by the developer appears to be manipulated to conceal losses and justify further development.
Metropolitan Open Land Status Misrepresented
Shepherds Close is protected Metropolitan Open Land, not infill or brownfield. Historical railway closure (tracks lifted in 1972, no record of permanent structures since) and repeated policy decisions confirm its open space, ecological, and community value.
Breach of Restrictive Covenant
A 1954 legal covenant prohibits construction within the 20ft railway buffer zone, yet an unauthorised fence and development works have been carried out in direct breach. The council must coordinate enforcement with statutory beneficiaries and ensure restoration.
Procedural Failures
The developer failed to notify statutory organisations as well as residents before commencing works. Retrospective applications do not legalise prior breaches—council enforcement powers remain in force even after the fact.
Planning Blight and Repetitive Applications
The site has been subjected to frequent, piecemeal planning applications—many after unlawful works and unresolved breaches—causing ongoing planning blight, community anxiety, and damage to neighbourhood amenity. Attempts to claim exemption from Biodiversity Net Gain requirements via “self-build” status are highly questionable.
Manipulation of Consultation and BNG Baseline
Support letters submitted by the developer have raised concerns about authenticity and relevance, potentially distorting consultation outcomes and drowning out objections from directly affected residents. Any BNG baseline must reflect pre-clearance ecological data and genuine site conditions.
Statutory and Political Actions Needed
Calls for a moratorium on further applications until breaches are resolved. Council urged to enforce restoration, coordinate with statutory beneficiaries, clarify responsible parties, and provide transparent updates. MP and councillor support have amplified scrutiny; continued community letters and evidence submissions are vital.
Risks of Non-Material Amendments (NMA)
Granting permission now could allow the developer to exploit the NMA process, introducing incremental changes with reduced oversight. This risk further amplifies the need for robust enforcement and restoration before any new permissions are considered.
Community Advocacy and Resilience
Community opposition remains strong, with ongoing advocacy for stricter scrutiny, restoration, and lasting legal protection. Historic and recent successes in protecting local green space underscore the importance of persistent engagement.
 
Final Call to Action
The campaign seeks immediate enforcement, restoration of the site, and designation of Shepherds Close as Local Green Space.
Supporters are encouraged to submit objections, evidence, and press for statutory compliance, restoration, and protection from ongoing development threats.

Our green spaces depend on your vigilance and action. Persistent advocacy can still drive enforcement, restoration, and lasting protection for future generations. Stand up. Send your objections and support for the allocation of the space as a green asset.

Help restore Shepherds Close and Parkland Walk—now and for the future.