Developer forced to stop work
Lichfield District Council has forced a developer to stop work at a site off the A51 in Upper Longdon, in order to protect the green belt.
Planning enforcement officers had concerns about substantial engineering works taking place on the land which were not covered by any planning permission.
A temporary stop notice was served on 13 October which prevents further work from taking place for 28 days whilst officers investigate the matter and determine the best course of action.
It is a criminal offence to contravene a temporary stop notice, with the maximum penalty being an unlimited fine.
Councillor Alex Farrell, Cabinet Member for Housing and Local Plan said:
“Officers will usually work with developers to resolve issues informally.
“However, enforcement action is sometimes necessary where no planning permission has been sought in order to protect the Green Belt or the local neighbourhood.
“Developers should always check that planning permission has been granted before commencing any work, and if necessary to seek advice from planning officers.”