Planning Inspector backs Winchester City Council’s enforcement action
Winchester City Council has welcomed the Planning Inspector’s decision to dismiss two linked appeals relating to land owned by Mr Mark Hepburn at Cupressus, Durley Brook Road, Durley.
Last week, the Inspector upheld the council’s enforcement action and dismissed a related planning appeal, concluding that the unauthorised residential use of agricultural land and associated development would harm the character of the countryside and conflict with planning policies.
The decision represents a positive outcome for the council’s enforcement service, which has worked over a number of years to address planning breaches at the site and secure compliance with planning controls.
Cllr Jackie Porter, Cabinet Member for Local Plan, said: ”It’s reassuring that the Inspector’s decision supports our position and confirms that our enforcement action was right and justified. Planning enforcement plays an important role in protecting our district to ensure that development is appropriate for Winchester and follows proper planning process.
“I’d like to thank our enforcement team for working on this case for a number of years. Now we’ll continue to work with the landowner to ensure the necessary action takes place within the timescale set by the Inspector.”
The Inspector granted a six-month compliance period for the requirements of the notice to be carried out, which includes removing the unauthorised tennis court and other associated development from the land, and ending its unauthorised residential use.
The Planning Inspector’s decision underpins Winchester City Council’s commitment to taking proportionate and robust enforcement action where necessary to address unauthorised development.