A homeowner in Chelsea is set to be served with a council enforcement order after allegedly failing to address a severe infestation of Japanese knotweed, as well as problems with rats and foxes at his multimillion-pound property. Kensington and Chelsea Council has moved to compel Nicholas Halbritter to tackle the longstanding issues at his home on Ifield Road, following persistent complaints from neighbours.
Neighbours raise concerns
Residents living near the property claim they have been battling the consequences of neglect at No. 144 for years, with impacts on the value of their own homes. A petition signed by 46 neighbours prompted the council to take action, leading to a Section 215 notice being served. This legal power allows local planning authorities to require property owners to clean up land or buildings that negatively affect the surrounding area.
Lead petitioner Nik Hoexter addressed a recent meeting of the council's planning applications committee, stating: "There's rampant knotweed, there's rats, foxes, there's a mosquito swarm from a leaking mains, which has been going on for two years. The decomposing remains of the last basement resident were removed, the windows to the street are blacked out, and to the rear vegetation is growing into the house from broken windows. The house is rotting from the inside out."
Council decision
Councillors voted in favour of the Section 215 notice despite a report advising against action, as officers had determined there was 'no significant harm to the area'. Cllr Marie-Therese Rossi argued: "Surely common sense must prevail. Direct action is needed, and this council must now act in the interest of its long-suffering residents."
Mr Hoexter urged the council to pursue more robust measures under Section 219 of the Act, which would allow the council to enter the property and carry out the work themselves. He noted that the owner, Nicholas Halbritter, is a former Conservative councillor who once sat on the same committee.
Another neighbour, Christine Gambles, alleged that Mr Halbritter "slams the door in my face" whenever she tries to discuss the condition of his garden. Mr Halbritter had previously been investigated by neighbouring Hammersmith and Fulham borough under a bi-borough arrangement. A Section 215 notice was served in 2016, and he faced prosecution the following year for non-compliance. Council officials confirmed the garden was cleared by November 2017, and the case was closed.
Council statement
A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesperson said: "Following the decision of the Planning Applications Committee, we are proceeding with a Section 215 notice and will progress it in line with the legislation and relevant guidance. The 2016 notice – which was investigated by a Hammersmith and Fulham officer under a bi-borough working arrangement at the time – was considered complied with and the enforcement case was closed."
What is Japanese knotweed?
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, Japanese knotweed is a persistent, clump-forming herbaceous perennial. Introduced to the UK as an ornamental garden plant, it has become an invasive weed subject to legal control measures. Stems typically grow to about 2 metres tall, reaching full height in late summer, then die back in winter. Underground, it forms a system of roots and rhizomes that can extend down 1 metre or more. Almost all Japanese knotweed plants in the UK are female, so it does not spread by seed, but it can hybridise with related plants. It tolerates a wide range of soil types and growing conditions, quickly colonising habitats such as roadsides, waste ground, and riverbanks.
Problems caused by Japanese knotweed
- Outcompetes native plants for space, light, moisture, and nutrients, reducing species diversity.
- Can cause damage to hard surfaces such as paving and tarmac by exploiting joints and cracks.
- Alters and degrades the banks of watercourses.
It is not an offence to have Japanese knotweed growing in your garden, but it is an offence to plant or cause it to grow in the wild, and steps should be taken to prevent it spreading.
