The ‘field’ to the south of the runway, which has no current planning permissions, now consists of two 10-foot-high mounds of earth and detritus, several large machines and an access road, which appears to be made of compacted hardcore.
The land is adjacent to an agricultural field owned by Colin Dodd, which is mainly used for grazing sheep and keeping chickens.
Mr Dodd said he had first informed the Development & Planning Authority about the works more than a month ago and was told this week that officials were now issuing an enforcement order to stop further work.
‘A few weeks ago, part of that land was thick with willows but that has already been stripped out,’ he said.
‘If it was just for a temporary village, why do this? They have destroyed it completely with no planning permission whatsoever.
‘They have ticked a box in their planning application that no trees or vegetation would be damaged and that’s because it has already been done.
‘They have also pulled out one of the willows on my side, which I was less than happy about.
‘As a Guernseyman, it angers me that I have to get planning permission to change my front door but they can do this with seemingly no comeback.’
Director of planning Jim Rowles said his officials investigated after receiving complaints, and found that unauthorised development had been carried out.
‘The developer has been given an opportunity either to apply for the work or remove it and reinstate the land,’ he said.
‘The period given for this expires on 4 November. Any application received would be considered without prejudice and could be approved, approved with conditions or refused. In the event of refusal, further action could be taken by the authority to secure reinstatement.’
He went on to clarify that in this case the removal of trees and vegetation did not constitute development that would require planning permission.
‘The unauthorised work referred to comprises partial demolition of earth banks, erection of an earth bank, raising of land, storage of earth and placing of vehicles and a shipping container.’
The land was bought in 2019 by a company registered in Hong Kong called Cassutt Special Ltd.
The planning application to use the land for 12 sleeper units is linked to permission granted in an adjacent field in 2013 to erect an aircraft hangar with a taxiway, apron and associated car parking area to the west of existing Aero Club hangar.
While that would have lapsed in 2016, the permission would have stayed in place if any of the work had been started.
Mr Dodd said the land had been cleared at that time but major groundworks for the hangar had begun only recently.
‘I made this point to planners,’ he said.
‘But they assured me sufficient work had started at the time.
‘If you look at Google Earth you can see the land was recently just a green field.’
Mr Dodd said that the same developers had also been trying to buy his land.
‘I’ve told them I have no interest and the agent said they would just build around me,’ he said.
‘They have now bought the field on the other side. A temporary fence has gone up between the end of my land, which is at the airport perimeter and the runway, that can only be for machine access to that other area, which is again agricultural land with no planning permission.’
The planning application for temporary accommodation stated it would be required for the duration of the hangar construction, which is expected to last 12 months.
Upon completion, all cabins and containers would be removed, and the land restored and re-seeded.
The Guernsey Press contacted the company carrying out the work, based in Kent.
No response had been received by the time of publication.
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