Sutton tree firm's green belt battle continues

A five-year dispute between South East Tree Care Ltd (SETC) and Sutton Council over operations at a Wallington green belt site is ongoing. Local residents and activists have reported dust, noise, and heavy vehicle traffic affecting the area since the company began operating at 268 Woodcote Road in late 2020.

SETC, which provides arborist services, has significantly expanded its operations on the designated metropolitan green belt land. The site, previously described as tranquil fields, now reportedly includes a gym, caravan, fencing, lighting, and scaffolding alongside wood-waste processing and tree-surgery activities. Activists from the Sutton Green Party have documented what they claim is evidence of environmental concerns, including the destruction of hedgerows and wildlife habitats, and the processing of non-timber waste.

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Enforcement Action and Appeals

Sutton Council issued an enforcement notice in April 2026, demanding that SETC cease forestry operations, stop waste storage, and remove structures including a caravan and gym within six months. However, this notice was withdrawn in March 2026. Both the council and the company have offered differing explanations for the withdrawal, with the council citing a potential administrative error and the company disputing the grounds.

This is not the first enforcement action. The council issued a previous notice in February 2024, which SETC appealed. A public inquiry in October 2024 led to the quashing of that notice by a planning inspector who found the council had failed to properly describe the unauthorised mixed use and that correcting the error would cause procedural injustice.

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The ongoing situation was raised in Parliament in 2025 by Bobby Dean, the MP for Carshalton and Wallington. He urged the minister to consider the evidence for prosecution, stating that residents had endured years of misery from what they described as an illegal waste dump. The minister advised Mr Dean to contact the Environment Agency regarding the level of evidence required for prosecution.

Next Steps

SETC appealed the current enforcement notice in June 2026. The company argues the site comprises separate businesses rather than a single planning unit and has requested 12 months to relocate. It is also challenging the method by which the enforcement notice was served on a resident living in a caravan on the site.

In parallel, SETC has initiated a High Court judicial review against Sutton Council, alleging procedural failings related to a Planning Contravention Notice. The Planning Inspectorate has decided not to pause the appeal process while the court considers permission for the judicial review. A three-day public inquiry into the enforcement notice is scheduled to begin on September 22.

Sutton Council stated that it would be inappropriate to comment on the matter due to the live enforcement case.