Man is fined over converting stable block into home

WORK DONE WITHOUT APPROVAL

- By ABIGAIL NICHOLSON

A MAN was fined £1,737 over what inspectors found at a former stables.

East Council received a complaint that a site at White Gap Road, Little Weighton, had been converted to residential use without permission. When officers visited the site they found significant works had been undertaken to a former stable block to enable conversion to a residential dwelling and a double garage had been built on the land.

The owner, Brendan Downes, was advised that residential use in this countryside location was unlikely to be approved and was asked to cease the use of the building and remove all domestic items from the land.

The owner had submitted a planning application in 2022 for conversion of the stable block to dwelling with associated works, erection of a timber storage building and erection of a shed. The application was refused in 2022 as it did not meet the criteria for residential conversions in the countryside.