Agenda item

11.1

The Director of Regeneration and Development Services submitted a report on his investigation into a complaint received concerning a breach of planning control relating to the unauthorised excavation of land to the rear of the former Middlewood Tavern off Middlewood Road North. The report stated that the work undertaken appeared to be in preparation for a new car park, with an access pathway from the existing car park at the former Middlewood Tavern.  A Planning Contravention Notice was sent on 5 November 2014 to the registered landowners to establish the purpose of the works, but contact had not been established as they had moved address and their new address was not known.

11.2

An assessment of the unauthorised works considered that as the land was designated as Green Belt and in view of the need to maintain, conserve and enhance the landscape and the natural environment it would be contrary to Policy GE1, GE2 and GE4 of the Unitary Development Plan and as the works were seen as constituting unrestricted urban growth and encroachment into the open countryside it was also contrary to the adopted Policy CS71 of the Core Strategy.

11.3

RESOLVED: That (a) the Director of Regeneration and Development Services and Head of Planning be authorised to take all appropriate steps including, if necessary, enforcement action and the institution of legal proceedings to secure the backfilling of the excavated land at the rear of the former Middlewood Tavern, Middlewood Road North and restoration of the land to green field with the reinstatement of a physical border; and

(b) the Head of Planning, in liaison with the Chair of this Committee, be authorised to vary the action to achieve the objectives hereby confirmed, including taking action to resolve any associated breaches of planning control.