Planners to decide whether unlawful extension to Staffordshire gipsy site should be allowed to remain
Planners will be asked to decide whether enforcement action should be taken after a gipsy site in the Staffordshire green belt was extended without planning permission.
John Ward has now applied for retrospective planning permission for an extra pitch at New Acre Stables, just 18 months after permission was granted for the original site.
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Planning consultant Mike Carr, acting on behalf of Mr Ward, said permission should be granted on the basis that the development falls within the Government's definition of a 'grey belt site.
Mr Carr said gipsies and travellers also fell into a group which was defined as having protected characteristics, and due weight must be given to this when considering the application.
In July 2024, South Staffordshire Council granted permission for seven gipsy pitches at the site off Wolverhampton Road, with a condition that they would only be occupied by 11 named individuals.
This followed temporary permission which had been granted in 2020. However, the council also took out enforcement action after Donna Ward took up residence with her family on the additional pitch, and an appeal against the decision was dismissed by the planning inspectorate.
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