Small plot with stables, East side of Heath Drive, Romford, RM1 3RL

Authority: London Borough of Havering
Appeal type: ldc · Lawful Development Certificate
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: agricultural · Other minor developments
Inspector: Ghafoor A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the existing equestrian use is immune from enforcement action due to the passage of time, specifically whether 10 years of continuous equestrian use can be demonstrated
Whether the equestrian use has been abandoned, having regard to physical condition, period of non-use, intervening uses and the owner's intentions

What decided it

The equestrian use ceased around 2004 and was abandoned, as evidenced by the significant period of non-use, the advanced state of disrepair of the stable building, and insufficient evidence of the owner's objective intention to resume the use, thereby extinguishing the lawful use right.

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