Harrow company ordered to replant trees at listed building following illegal works

On 1 June 2026, at St Albans Magistrates Court, Agrawal Estate Ltd, registered in Harrow, pleaded guilty to two charges of illegally felling twelve Lawson’s Cypress and one Blue Atlas Cedar at The Court in Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood, protected by the Chorleywood Conservation Area, between May 2024 and March 2025.

The company was ordered to pay a fine of £14,040, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and £10,000 of Three Rivers District Council's costs in bringing the case. In addition, Mr Tarun Agrawal, a representative of Agrawal Estates, agreed to an undertaking, in writing, to replant 30 new and replacement trees at The Court within six months.

The council brought the case following tree works carried out at The Court, which is a Grade II listed building and is in the Chorleywood Common Conservation Area. Conservation areas impose statutory protection to trees with stem diameters exceeding 75mm at 1.5m above ground level which means tree owners are required by law to give the council six weeks written notice prior to felling trees protected by this status.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst OBE, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, said: "Trees not only add character to a place, especially in a Conservation Area, but are also important for biodiversity and air quality. It was extremely disheartening to see so many trees illegally felled but I am very pleased to see those responsible held to account. We are sending a clear message that we and our communities will not tolerate this behaviour. The Court is in a Conservation Area for good reason, and the legal protections that apply to Conservations Areas must be upheld.”

Cllr Aidan Bentley, Lead Member for Climate Change & Sustainability, said: "These mature trees were precious, grown over many years and it is unacceptable that they were allowed to be destroyed.  We are pleased with the result of this case, which is a demonstration of the council's commitment to tree protection in Three Rivers district"

The Court was built in 1911–1912 by architect J.D. Coleridge for Sir George Alexander and is a nationally recognised heritage asset due to its architectural and historical significance. The building was extensively damaged by fire in February 2025. Following reports received in July 2025 of deliberate unauthorised demolition works, the council acted swiftly and issued a legal notice known as a “Temporary Stop Notice” under the Listed Building Act 1990. A Consent Order was granted in September 2025 by the High Court, which prevents further unauthorised works and ensures that the building will continue to benefit from the highest legal protections afforded by the Act in the longer term.