Civil engineer faces pay-out after losing planning appeal

The unauthorised work at Upper Coalmoor Farm

A Telford civil engineering business faces a major pay-out after losing a planning appeal over unauthorised excavation work.

SP Holding had appealed an enforcement notice issued against it by Telford & Wrekin Council in regard to excavation work carried out at Moreton Coppice.

A planning inspector has now ruled in favour of the local authority following a four-day public inquiry.

SP Holding must now cease all engineering and excavation operations at Upper Coalmoor Farm, Coalmoor Lane, Moreton Coppice and restore the land to its former condition within 12 months.

Planning inspector Stephen Brown has also ordered the firm to pay a significant part of the council’s costs.

The case arose when an enforcement notice was served on company owner Stephen Holding in September 2015 after work on the coppice began without planning permission.

SP Holding appealed the enforcement notice and this appeal resulted in the public inquiry, which was held in January.

The appeal has now been dismissed on all grounds expect for a variation to the compliance period.

As well as stopping all work and restoring the land, the company will also be required to stop using the land to park various vehicles.

Cllr Richard Overton, the council’s Housing and Enforcement leader, said: “We are very pleased with the inspector’s decision to dismiss the appeal and uphold the enforcement notice on all grounds.

“This fully supported the council’s view that the development was unauthorised and also an inappropriate form of development in this location that caused significant harm to the character and appearance of the countryside and the site itself.

“It is further evidence that where development is carried out without the necessary planning permission, Telford & Wrekin Council will take enforcement action where appropriate.”

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