20A Norcot Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 6BU

Planning appeal 3338521 at 20A Norcot Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 6BU (Reading Borough Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 13 August 2024 by Inspector King T, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the alleged breaches of planning control had become immune from enforcement action (ground (d)).

Material change of use of land from vehicle sales/garage workshop to (Appeal A) a vehicle wash and valeting business (sui generis) with erection of a waiting room, and (Appeal B) a vehicle bodyshop/spraying and storage business (sui generis) with erection of a spray booth building and lean-to extension

Authority: Reading Borough Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Inquiry
Development: employment-industrial · Change of use
Inspector: King T
Postcode: RG30 6BU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the alleged breaches of planning control had become immune from enforcement action (ground (d))
The correct identification of the planning unit and the application of the Mansi principle to existing use rights

What decided it

The vehicle wash/valeting use, waiting room, spray booth and lean-to extension had not existed for the requisite ten-year (change of use) or four-year (operational development) immunity periods, so the ground (d) appeals failed.

What the Inspector cited

Judgments: Burdle & Williams v SSE & New Forest DC [1972] 1 WLR 1207; Mansi v Elstree Rural DC [1964] 16 P&CR 153; De Mulder v SSE [1973] 25 P&CR 303 JPL 429

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

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