This is more common than you think, developers are well renowned for 'backing over a tree with a digger' during initial site clearance prior to applying.I know a chap here that bought a plot of land with a copse of Beech trees growing on it. He applied for planning permission to build a house there. Planning threw out the application stating that the trees could not be cut down.
3 weeks later, he cut the trees down in one weekend, council took him to court and he was fined £1000. A few months later planning permission was given because the trees were gone.
Apparently he knew a couple of local councillors who advised him for a backhander.
@ Linhay: I have never, in 22 years, had a meeting with or feedback from a Planner who has not stated that anything they said cannot be taken as an automatic green light to an Approval. This is a golden rule of Planning, why you ever thought differently is a mystery frankly.
