Action to force the removal of a large outdoor structure erected outside a restaurant without planning permission is being considered by Stevenage Borough Council (SBC).

An unauthorised structure was erected at the Tranquil Turtle in Stevenage's Symonds Green Lane in October last year to cover the outdoor seating area of the premises.

The council says it served a Planning Contravention Notice on the owners of the site, Greene King, on October 12, but "to date, no response has been received".

On February 15, the council's Planning and Development Committee will meet to decide whether to take enforcement action.

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A report by the council's planning officer says "it is evident that the operators of Tranquil Turtle and the landowners Greene King have no intention to remove the structure", despite "a breach of planning control".

The report continues: "Looking at the unauthorised structure, it is constructed from scaffolding with a corrugated sheet metal roof with plastic sheeting on the side.

"The structure represents an unsympathetic and incongruous design, which does not reflect the architectural characteristics of the host property.

"Furthermore, it is of a significant size and scale and is not deemed proportionate in scale or form to the public house."

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The planning officer also noted that "it is an incongruous form of development within the conservation area and widely visible within the street scene, especially the common".

He said it has "a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the public house and the visual amenity of the wider street scene of Symonds Green Lane".

The council's conservation and heritage advisor at BEAMS - the trading company of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust - said: "I would agree the structure is harmful to the character and appearance of the Symonds Green Conservation Area by virtue of its size and makeshift/scaffolded, poor quality appearance. I would recommend enforcement action is taken to remove the structure."

The planning officer has recommended that an Enforcement Notice is issued, requiring the entire scaffolded structure to be removed and the land made good where necessary.

The Tranquil Turtle and Greene King have both been contacted for comment.