A bid to keep an unauthorised car park built within a green belt field has been rejected after a three-year appeal.

The car park was built at the Green End Business Centre in Sarratt without seeking planning permission in 2017, but it will now be removed to help protect the green belt.

It was built within an open field by the business centre despite concerns by the planning officers about its harmful effect to the green belt.

Three Rivers District Council served an enforcement notice as a last resort in September 2018, but the notice was appealed until now.

In the appeal decision, it was said that while the land is not “readily visible” from a vantage point, it still reduces the openness of the green belt land

Sara Bedford, leader of the council, said: “This decision is sadly another prime example where a landowner has attempted to sidestep the planning process without the engagement with the council’s planning department and hoped to get away with it.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of seeking pre-application advice to avoid unnecessary costs in undertaking unauthorised works.

“Whilst these particular works occurred in 2017, the council has continued its fight and has had to wait a long time to receive the appeal decision.”