Japanese knotweed problem

lunchboxbill

Hi,

Japanese knotweed has been found just behind next doors property and as a result the banks have valued it as “worthless”.

The estate is 5 years old and Barratts have denied any knowledge of it ever existing. However after speaking to the original surveyor for the development, he has claimed the site was “riddled” with it.

Legally, do Barrats have to do anything about it? It may not be on the actual development (but it may be) but it is certainly on adjoining land and is less than 10 metres from buildings on the development.

Who is best to contact (council, environmental health?) in order to get the land owner with the issue to get it treated?

Thanks.

Browntoa

contact the local council , it would have been notifiable if on the land and should have been dealt with at the time

http://www.devon.gov.uk/advice_planner

There is a legal obligation on developers not to allow the spread of Japanese Knotweed but planners also have a vital role in helping to prevent the spread of the plant by ensuring that developers are made aware of the invasive nature of the plant and their legal obligations to prevent its spread. Planners can ensure that the law is complied with and this can include requiring developers to implement a control programme if it is present on or near the site. Advice for Planners To allow a co-ordinated approach to the control of Japanese Knotweed in Devon it would be desirable for Local Planning Authorities to have a specific policy within the Local Plan and the emerging Local Development Framework to ensure developers consider Japanese Knotweed and control it on site. Furthermore, planning conditions can be applied to planning permissions where Japanese Knotweed is found on site. Development Control Officers should check for the presence of Japanese Knotweed when considering planning applications. If you suspect that Japanese Knotweed is on a development site you should request a survey by an ecological surveyor. If its presence is confirmed then a control programme, suitable for that site, should be drawn up as part of the planning application and this should include the safe disposal of Knotweed material. Planning conditions to ensure that the control programme is carried out should be imposed. - See more at: http://www.devon.gov.uk/advice_planner#sthash.Xh0DfC4b.dpuf