Land East of the Brambles, Rockalls Road, Polstead, Suffolk, CO6 5AS

the unauthorised operational development involving the erection of two buildings, in the approximate location edged in blue on the attached notice plan and the material change of use of the land for use as a Wellness Retreat Centre

Authority: Babergh District Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Change of use
Inspector: Ghafoor A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the alleged breach of planning control (erection of two buildings and material change of use to Wellness Retreat Centre) has occurred
Whether the alleged matters constitute a breach of planning controls
Whether it is too late to take action (immunity from enforcement)
Whether the requirements of the enforcement notice are excessive
Whether the period for compliance is reasonable

What decided it

The wellness retreat centre use, characterised by leisure, recreation and tourism activities, represents a significant and material change from the lawful agricultural or woodland use and cannot be considered ancillary to or part of forestry operations.

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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What an account adds

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Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
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