10 Nov 2025
A new planning application for former tourist attraction Butterfly World to be used for a car storage facility has been submitted.
Planning inspector Andrew Walker granted permission for Bud Rescue and Recovery to operate from the Green Belt site in July, but the decision was made without any public consulation, despite campaign group Keep Chiswell Green and wildlife organisation Herts and Middlesex Butterfly Conservation saying they wished to have their say.
The Government’s Legal Department since conceded that a procedural error was made which invalidates the decision, and Bud Rescue and Recovery’s application to remain and operate from the site will return to the Planning Inspectorate for a third time for redetermination.
Due to sustained trading losses, the Butterfly World Project closed in December 2015, leaving the site in disuse.
In 2020, the site was occupied first by Convene Construction and then by Bud Rescue and Recovery who have allowed the operation of a large range of vehicle businesses including the stationing of caravans and shipping containers, vehicle sales and maintenance, the storage of construction plant, materials and waste, and scaffolding equipment.
The operations from this site pose a noise nuisance to neighbours, as well as causing air and light pollution which is detrimental to local residents and to the insects on the site.
But now a new application – 5/2025/2054 has been submitted. at all costs.”
It calls for: “Stationing of caravans/shipping containers, vehicle sales and maintenance, storage of construction plant, materials and waste, scaffolding equipment, storage of vehicles, vehicle parts, motorcycles, household chattels and business use.”
No further information has been made public.
Malcolm Hull of Herts and Middlesex Butterfly Conservation said: “This is an important site for wildlife and not appropriate for commercial uses.
“It is disappointing that the current unlawful uses are continuing. We do not know how much damage they have already caused, but prolonging them is only likely to result in further harm.
“The town planning system has failed badly on this site, with two previous Planning Inspectors holding inquiries in secret without seeking public comments. Quite rightly these decisions have both been overturned. Hopefully this fresh application will allow a more transparent process to take place with the public given an opportunity to comment on the merits of the proposal.”
Shirani St Ledger McCarthy, who was active in fighting against the previous appeal on behalf of Keep Chiswell Green, added: “Yet again, the planning system demonstrates how broken it is. The paperwork to confirm that the previous appeal decision has been quashed due to lack of public consultation has not even been issued yet by the courts, and the applicants have already put in a new planning application ! The Planning Inspectorate is due to be rescheduling the appeal for re-determination, but it looks like St Albans council may decide the new planning application before the Planning Inspectorate can get their job done first. That would be an interesting situation – if one says yes, and the other says no!
“Parts of the Butterfly World site are clearly previously developed land (brownfield land) but there is no presumption in favour of development for industrial uses. Let’s see if SADC stick to their enforcement action for the unlawful operations on the site to be removed, or approve them when they apply properly through the system.
“Either way, the most important aspect – whether it’s for the Planning Inspectorate or SADC – is the butterflies and their rare habitats that were created on site that must be protected at all costs.”
