Bulldozers clear illegal cattery

Philip Catt kept four Savannah cats in the enclosure

A huge enclosure built by an animal breeder to house rare savannah cats in his back garden has been demolished after a two-year legal battle.

Philip Catt built the walk-in cage, measuring 10m (33ft) by 8.6m (28ft), in Village Road, Finchley, north London, before seeking planning permission.

Last year the High Court upheld Barnet Council's decision not to grant him retrospective planning permission.

Neighbours objected when Mr Catt built the cage in the conservation area.

Savannah cats come from mating an African serval cat with a domestic cat to produce a relatively large, spotted cat with huge ears.

Lives blighted

Mr Catt, who changed his surname, built the first of four brick buildings in June 2006 then went on to construct a further three over the next 18 months.

Retrospective planning permission for his first structure was refused as it was out of character with the conservation area.

Leader of Barnet council Mike Freer, said: "Mr Catt's nine lives have finally run out and the illegal structures that have blighted the lives of local residents can now finally be removed.

"I hope that this sends a clear signal that development without planning permission, especially within a conservation area, will not be tolerated."

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Philip Catt built the walk-in cage before seeking planning permission

Mr Justice Ouseley, who heard the case in the High Court in October, threw out Mr Catt's request for a judicial review and refused him permission for a further appeal.

"What's happening is completely unnecessary," said Mr Catt. "It's not hurting anyone, it's in no one's way.

"It's not harming the conservation area. By the time they've finished it'll look like a bombsite and who benefits from that?"

He was ordered to pay costs of more than £25,000.

Neighbour Carolyn Lewis previously said: "We are living in a beautiful conservation area with massive gardens and pay a price to do so."