07 Mar 2025
The horrific state of the former Butterfly World site in Chiswell Green has been revealed by new drone footage.
The stark contrast between the former wildlife attraction and the current commercial car storage facility has never been more apparent than in these images.
Previously it was difficult to obtain detailed photos of what was happening at the site because much of the industrial use was away from fencing and other viewing areas, so these aerial shots are the first proper opportunity to see the extent of the damage caused.
The 27-acre Green Belt location has been rammed with diggers, recovery trucks and hundreds of cars alongside other semi-permanent structures.
Polluting smoke billows from one part of the site – possibly a garage facility – where some sort of industrial activity was obviously underway, and leaked oil covers various surfaces.
None of this should have been possible, as planning permission was only granted on the condition that the site was used for horticulture, horticultural training, research, butterfly keeping and for visits by the public, and should the venue close it was supposed to be restored to its original state.
A neighbour of the site said: “I am deeply concerned and frustrated over the ongoing occupation of the land. The devastation to the area is appalling, and I am angry more was not done by local authorities when this first began to ensure it was stopped immediately.
“I have little confidence that enforcement officers will ensure the occupiers leave as required or that the land will be restored properly – without St Albans residents footing the bill. Even worse, I fear the council may fail to take meaningful action until a developer comes forward with plans for housing. So much damage has already been done.
“I would like to know what our local councillors are actively doing to monitor the situation.
“At what point will they stand up for those who elected them and intervene? Residents deserve clear answers on what steps are being taken to protect our community and ensure accountability.”
As previously revealed in the St Albans Times, a company called Convene Construction applied to have the adjoining land excluded from the Green Belt under the SADC Local Plan Examination in December 2019, but this was rejected by the council.
SADC served two enforcement notices on the site on October 21 2022, which included the requirements for the land to no longer be used for storing vehicles, for the removal of all
temporary buildings, fencing and hard surfaces, and the clearance of all materials and waste.
Appeals against the notices by a company called Bud Rescue and Recovery were rejected and the enforcement action upheld with some minor amendments, but the terms gave a nine-month period in which the site must be cleared, restricting SADC from taking any action until June.
It is now rumoured that the company has launched a fresh appeal to the High Court, which could tie up the whole process in legal wranglings for years.
