A man who converted a Yorkshire farm into a home without planning permission has been ordered to pay more than £25,000 or face jail time.
Liam Snowden, 34, was convicted at York Crown Court in January after ignoring an enforcement notice first issued in 2020.
Snowden bought land at East Field Barn, Deighton, near Northallerton and converted a former agricultural building into his home without seeking planning permission.
Two retrospective applications were refused, along with appeals to the Planning Inspectorate.
He was prosecuted for failing to comply with an enforcement notice issued by Hambleton District Council, contrary to section 179(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
After local government reorganisation, the case was taken over by North Yorkshire Council.
In July 2024, Snowden pleaded not guilty at York Magistrates Court and elected for the case to be heard at York Crown Court, delaying proceedings.
He was convicted in January this year following a four-day trial before the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris.
At sentencing earlier this month, Snowden, who represented himself throughout, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £25,029 in costs – and a £100 court surcharge within three months.
If he fails to pay, he faces 30 days in prison.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for open to business, councillor Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include planning policy, said: “Planning rules exist to protect our communities, our environment and the integrity of the planning system.
“When individuals choose to ignore those rules and defy enforcement action, we will not hesitate to take robust legal action”.
A Yorkshire man faced prison if he fails to pay a £25k fine for converting a farm into his home without planning permission
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North Yorkshire Council
He said the case showed that failing to comply with an enforcement notice could bring serious consequences.
He added: “We will continue to pursue those who flout the law and will always act to uphold the decisions made through the proper planning process.”
Councillor Heather Phillips, executive member for corporate services, said it was unusual for cases of this kind to reach Crown Court and stressed the importance of recovering public money spent on prosecutions.
She said: “The costs in this case were substantial and while this should not be the main consideration when deciding whether to progress with proceedings it is important that taxpayers’ money is recovered where possible.
“I am grateful that Judge Morris highlighted the need for this money to be repaid promptly and in full and Snowden was left in no doubt that if he did not comply, he would be sent to prison”.
