High Court Grants Final Injunction for Somerset Council | Mark Beard

Six Pump Court is pleased to report a successful outcome for Somerset Council in relation to an unauthorised residential traveller site at Oxen Lane, North Curry. The High Court has granted a final injunction under section 187B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, concluding that the public interest in enforcing planning control outweighed the hardship that enforcement would cause.

Mark Beard advised and represented the Council throughout the matter, including at a four-day planning inquiry concerning a proposed 16-pitch traveller site.

The Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal and awarded costs in the Council’s favour. Of particular significance, the Inspector concluded that the proposal would adversely affect the integrity of the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar Site and that it had not been demonstrated that those impacts could be adequately mitigated. The Ramsar impacts were found to provide a strong reason for refusal.

Following the successful defence of the appeal, the High Court granted a final injunction, attaching significant weight to the Inspector’s findings.

The judgment can be read here: Somerset Council v Richards & Ors [2026] EWHC 2401 (KB).