Land to the north of Kings Barn, How End Road, Houghton Conquest, MK45 3JT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the creation of a new hard surfaced track constitutes development requiring planning permission
• Whether the use of land and buildings as a builder's yard for storage of materials and equipment and plant hire is immune from enforcement action as a result of ten years continuous use
• The effects of the use of an existing field access, creation of a new hard surfaced track and parking area, and siting of a mobile catering kitchen unit on character and appearance, amenities of nearby residents and traffic and transport conditions

What decided it

The evidence demonstrating continuous use of the builder's yard since 2003 rendered that use immune from enforcement action, and the track, parking area and catering unit were justified as necessary ancillary developments with acceptable impacts.