Former butterfly sanctuary must remove vehicles

Butterfly World was home to rare species including the half male, half female gynandromorph

Owners of a former £27m butterfly sanctuary, launched by naturalist Sir David Attenborough, will have to remove vehicles stored there, a planning inspector ruled.

Butterfly World in Chiswell Green, St Albans, opened in 2009 and closed in 2015. It has since been used for storing and selling vehicles and parts.

Bud Rescue and Recovery Ltd said the site was used by 15 businesses, and supported 65 jobs.

However, the inspector said there was "little to demonstrate a specific need for the types of development present on the site".

The plan was to build a 100m bio dome for 10,000 butterflies, when Butterfly World was in operation

Planning permission for the 27-acre green belt site was granted by St Albans City and District Council on the condition it was used as the tourist attraction, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

It issued two enforcement notices in October 2022 giving the owners six months to return it to its previous state.

Bud Rescue and Recovery appealed, but the planning inspector upheld the original decision and gave them nine months to return it to its former state and "seek alternative premises".

The company argued that the effect of their development on the "openness" of the green belt site was less than permitted by the council when planning permission was granted.

Butterfly World in Chiswell Green, St Albans, opened in 2009

Butterfly World was developed by lepidopterist Clive Farrell, housed over 600 tropical butterflies, was created in the shape of a butterfly's head, and had about 500,000 visitors.

It was opened by its patron, and former EastEnders star, Jake Wood.

Only part of the development, which included a research complex, visitor centre, and café, was built.

The inspector found there was "visual harm" from the vehicle storage and there were not "very special circumstances" to allow for the green belt development.

The report said the area used by businesses "has significantly increased" from what was built by Butterfly World.