Land South of Newlands Road , WICKFORD, Essex, SS12 9ER

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether Condition 2, limiting the number of caravans, is necessary in the interests of the Green Belt and local character
• whether it is too late to take enforcement action (ground (d))
• whether the requirements of the notice exceed what is necessary to remedy the breach (ground (f))
• whether the period for compliance is too short (ground (g))

What decided it

The very substantial Green Belt harm (inappropriateness, loss of openness, encroachment and urban sprawl) was not clearly outweighed by the unmet traveller need, personal circumstances or human rights considerations.

Substantial/very substantial Green Belt and character harm, together with the intentional unauthorised nature of the development, outweighed the significant weight given to unmet gypsy and traveller need, lack of alternative sites, personal circumstances, human rights interference and the best interests of children, resulting in dismissal of the main enforcement appeals; for Plot 3 the need for satisfactory living conditions outweighed the limited Green Belt harm, resulting in that appeal being allowed.