Land north side of Coppice Lane, Hammerwich, Burntwood, Staffordshire, WS7 0JY

Without planning permission, the unauthorised change of use of land from agricultural to equestrian use, including the erection of two timber stables (shown approximately edged black on the attached plan) and a timber hay store (shown approximately edged in blue on the attached plan)

Authority: Lichfield District Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Hearing
Development: leisure-sport · Change of use

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the change of use from agricultural to equestrian use is inappropriate having regard to development plan policies and the Framework.
If the development constitutes inappropriate development, whether the harm by way of inappropriateness and any other harm is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development.

What decided it

The buildings were immune from enforcement under the 4-year rule and the equestrian use itself was found not to be inappropriate development in the Green Belt under Framework paragraph 150(e).

Framework references: 150, 146

Plan policies cited: Policy NR2

Judgments cited: Murfitt v Secretary of State & East Cambridgeshire DC 1980; R (Hall Hunter Partnership) v FSS & Waverley BC 2007

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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