Forest of Dean District Council has lost its enforcement action over a building made of straw bales originally constructed for research and educational purposes by local resident Jim Wallis, who subsequently moved in and lived in the property.
The straw bale house had become a planning cause célèbre, the subject of high court challenges and two appeals. As a result of the most recent one Wallis has been allowed to retain the building, threatened with demolition, and to live in it.
Peter Williams, group manager for planning and housing with the local planning authority, said “It’s very disappointing to lose this case. Planning permission was originally granted as an exception to policy for a specific educational purpose and because of its environmental aspects.
Planning law states that immunity from enforcement action is gained either after 10 years for uses of land or breaches of condition, or four years for building works or changes of use to a single dwelling.
The council’s argument in this case was that the relevant period was 10 years as there was a breach of a condition on the original planning permission. The inspector accepted the appellant’s argument that the relevant period in this case was four years. The complexity of the arguments is reflected in the fact that the case has been the subject of consideration by two inspectors and the High Court.”
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