Mark O'Brien O'Reilly is appearing for Tandridge District Council at a 9-day public inquiry starting today (14 July 2026). Mark is acting as sole counsel for the Council against a leading planning silk.

The inquiry concerns an appeal by Vilmex Limited (part of the Comer Group) against an Enforcement Notice requiring the demolition of a 167-flat residential development at Whyteleafe House, Godstone Road, Whyteleafe — a development which it is now common ground between the parties was built entirely without planning permission.

The key issues for the inquiry include immunity and deliberate concealment (ground d appeal). The Appellant also has a ground (a) appeal seeking planning permission for the Unauthorised Development, potentially with what it terms "Optional Enhancements". The main issues in the ground (a) appeal include (a) character and appearance, (b) daylight/sunlight, (c) living conditions, (d) affordable housing and viability (especially in the enforcement context) and (e) intentional unauthorised development. 

Mark is ideally placed to lead on complex enforcement appeals of this nature. He appeared for the Royal Borough of Greenwich in the Mast Quay Phase II inquiry — another major enforcement case involving the same developer group.