Geldards secures High Court injunction to protect Aberthaw Power Station Site

Geldards Property Dispute Management team is pleased to have acted for CCR Energy and Erith Contractors in securing a High Court injunction to protect the former Aberthaw Power Station site following repeated incursions by urban explorers.

There are increasing instances of urban explorers entering disused industrial sites to photograph or document their history. However, at Aberthaw the unauthorised access created serious and immediate safety concerns and introduced avoidable programme risk. With unstable structures, deep voids, asbestos-containing materials and live demolition operations on site, any unauthorised entry had the potential to disrupt critical path activities, delay progress and compromise safe project delivery.

With a major, multi-year demolition and redevelopment programme underway, it was essential to establish a clear legal framework to deter further incursions and provide robust enforcement options. The injunction, granted against “persons unknown”, now provides a formal legal mechanism to prevent unauthorised access and remains in force until 2027.

This matter demonstrates the value of early, proactive legal intervention to protect high-risk regeneration and redevelopment sites and support uninterrupted project delivery. If you are experiencing similar challenges on complex or unsecured land, tailored advice and swift action can significantly reduce risk and protect both safety and commercial outcomes.

Nicola Lawrence, Partner Geldards said:

“Injunctions against ‘persons unknown’ require careful navigation of a highly technical legal framework, particularly when applied to large, evolving regeneration sites. Our team — Llinos Davies, Ella Harmer and myself — worked closely with CCR Energy and Erith Contractors to ensure the order was precise, enforceable and aligned with the operational realities on site. The result provides long term protection and supports safe, uninterrupted project delivery.”

If you require assistance protecting unsecured property or land or have any dispute resolution queries, please contact our Property Litigation team who will be happy to advise.