A Green belts are a buffer between towns, and between town and countryside. (Pic-Google Maps)
Paul Ballard, formerly of Theydon Bois, set up the self-storage business in 2014 using Kevin Flack to front it.
Flack was handed the confiscation order in court.
Ballard was not ordered to pay costs or fines, this is because the judge felt there was no way of him paying due to the fact he is currently serving a 19 year prison sentence for causing death by dangerous driving, rape, attempted rape, assault and criminal damage and threats to kill.
The pair did not comply with an enforcement notice that required them to close the business and return the land to its original state.
A hearing took place at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 6 December where Ballard was ordered to give back the £553,772 he made from the business and also from the sale of the land at Burrows Farm, Brentwood Road in Bulphan.
Despite benefitting from the scheme, the court heard that Flack was an unwitting front-man for the illicit business.
As a result of this a nominal order of £1 was made against him.
Cllr Ben Maney, Cabinet Member with responsibility for planning, said: “This demonstrates that those who seek to break planning regulations to set-up businesses on land without planning permission will not profit by breaking the rules.
“This significant confiscation order should serve as a warning that we take breaches of planning and enforcement notices extremely seriously and will use every legal means at our disposal to ensure justice is done.”
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Tags: Buphan, Green Belt Land, Paul Ballard
