For the second time in six months, Cotswold District Council has taken Redrow Homes Ltd to court after they failed to comply with planning requirements at the Mallards development near South Cerney.

The company was fined £1,000 at Cheltenham Magistrates Court for each of five offences related to carrying out building work outside of permitted times.

The fines were reduced to £750 in each case because Redrow entered guilty pleas.

The company was also ordered to pay a Victim Surcharge of £75 and the council's costs of £500.

In total, the company will have to pay £4,325.

Redrow Homes Ltd previously pleaded guilty to two counts of carrying out building work outside of permitted times in October last year.

This resulted in the company being fined £750 for each of the two counts, and they were also instructed to pay a £75 victim surcharge and £500 in Council costs.

Cotswold District Council has warned the firm that they must now comply with planning requirements governing their operating times, or they will face further prosecutions.

Cllr Sue Coakley, the Cabinet Member for Environment, is determined to crack down on this practice:

"Even after they were fined last October, Redrow Homes continued building work beyond the times permitted," said Cllr Oakley.

"The relevant planning approval states that work at the Mallards site is restricted to 8am to 6pm on Mondays to Fridays, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, with no working on Sundays or public holidays.

"The developer continued to breach these time limits and, in doing so, blatantly ignored the wishes of nearby residents who expected them to adhere to the planning restrictions.

"We will not hesitate to take Redrow, and any other builders, to court if we have evidence that they breach restrictions and it is in the public interest to take enforcement action.

"Any residents affected by this sort of behaviour should call the council on 01285 62300 or email cdc@cotswold.gov.uk  so that we can investigate."