Land at Harthope Disused Quarry, Harthope Common, Harthope Head, Harthope Road, St Johns Chapel, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL13 1QB

Without planning permission the material change of use of the disused quarries and agricultural common land on the Land to a mixed use of the site for motor sport and recreational vehicular activities and agriculture

Authority: Durham County Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Change of use
Inspector: Cullen F

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the period specified in the enforcement notice for compliance (5 days) falls short of what should reasonably be allowed under section 174(2)(g) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990

What decided it

The significant harm caused by motor sport and recreational vehicular activities to nationally and internationally designated sites on common land, combined with the public interest in expeditious compliance and the substantial time already elapsed, justified the 5-day compliance period as reasonable and proportionate.

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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