Council Orders Chelsea Homeowner to Clear Knotweed 'Jungle'
Kensington and Chelsea council has taken action against a homeowner who allegedly failed to address rampant knotweed, rats, and foxes in the garden of his multi-million pound property. Nicholas Halbritter, owner of a home on Ifield Road, has been served a Section 215 order following years of complaints from neighbors.
Residents living on Ifield Road, where homes have sold for more than £3 million, claim that No. 144 is "rotting from the inside out" and that the issues have affected the value of their own properties. A total of 46 neighbors signed a petition demanding action, prompting the council to intervene.
The Section 215 notice is a legal power that enables local planning authorities to compel owners to tidy up land or buildings that adversely affect local amenity. At a meeting of the council's planning applications committee earlier this month, lead petitioner Nik Hoexter detailed the problems: "There's rampant knotweed, there's rats, foxes, there's a mosquito swarm from a leaking mains, which has been going on for two years. The decomposing remains of the last basement resident were removed, the windows to the street are blacked out, and to the rear vegetation is growing into the house from broken windows. The house is rotting from the inside out."
Councillors voted to serve the notice despite a report recommending no action, as officers had assessed there was "no significant harm to the area." Speaking in favor of the notice, Cllr Marie-Therese Rossi said: "Surely common sense must prevail. Direct action is needed, and this council must now act in the interest of its long-suffering residents."
Mr. Hoexter called on the council to take stronger action under Section 219, which would allow the council to enter the property and undertake the work itself. He noted that Mr. Halbritter is a former Conservative councillor who once served on the same committee. Another resident claimed Mr. Halbritter "slams the door in my face" whenever she tries to discuss the garden.
Mr. Halbritter was previously investigated by neighboring Hammersmith and Fulham council under a shared resources agreement. A Section 215 notice was issued then, and he was prosecuted for failing to comply. Council officers said the garden was cleared by November 2017, and the notice was considered complied with.
A Kensington and Chelsea council spokesperson said: "Following the decision of the Planning Applications Committee, we are proceeding with a Section 215 notice and will progress it in line with the legislation and relevant guidance. The 2016 notice – which was investigated by a Hammersmith & Fulham officer under a bi-borough working arrangement at the time – was considered complied with and the enforcement case was closed."
