An attempt to overturn enforcement action we have made against unauthorised development off Woodhouses Road in Burntwood has been refused.
On November 5, the Planning Inspectorate officially dismissed an appeal lodged by Mr David Price and Mr Kevin Clee. The ruling upholds an enforcement notice originally issued by the council on May 22, 2026, following breaches of planning control at the site.
Those occupying the site must:
- Stop using the land as a gypsy and traveller site.
- Remove all caravans, residential items, and unauthorised utility hook-ups for water and electricity.
- Dig up and remove the hard-surfaced area and an unauthorised septic tank.
- Clear all rubbish, halt the delivery of new materials, and restore the land to its original state.
In dismissing the appeal, the Inspector gave substantial weight to the harm caused to the Green Belt, including harm to its openness, and to the intentional nature of the unauthorised development. The Inspector found that there were no very special circumstances capable of outweighing this harm and justifying this development in the Green Belt.
While disappointed that the compliance period has been extended from five months to twelve months, the Council remains keen to see the unauthorised development removed and the site restored in accordance with the requirements of the enforcement notice as soon as practicable.
Councillor Richard Cox, Cabinet Member for Community and Public Protection at Lichfield District Council, welcomed the decision:
“Residents were understandably very concerned about unauthorised development on the land off Woodhouses Road earlier this year.
“Our officers undertook a lot of work to ensure we could robustly defend the appeal against the enforcement notice. This careful work has led to the correct result.
“I am pleased that the Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal. Lichfield District Council will not tolerate unauthorised development anywhere in the district.”