Gerpins Lane Upminster Gravel Pit caravan plans refused

Havering Council has blocked proposals to install seven extra mobile homes at a site called Gravel Pit, in Gerpins Lane, as well as to keep six existing mobile homes.

The planning application - submitted by Homz UK on behalf of Mark Morris in September last year - also included changing the use of the site for residential purposes and roadway "improvements".

However, the council decided that the proposed development would be "inappropriate" due to its location on green belt land, and that it would "encroach into previously undeveloped space".

The planning officer said: "The scale of the residential use and extent of development, impact on openness spatially and visually would have a detrimental effect on the green character of the locality and visual amenity more generally.

"The redevelopment of the site would represent an unwelcome urbanisation of an otherwise open setting.

"No compelling case has been presented which would demonstrate very special circumstances which would outweigh the in principle and other harm identified."

Also mentioned among the reasons for refusal is that there was "intentional unauthorised development" before the planning application was submitted.

This refers to the caravan owners receiving a temporary stop notice from the council in July last year, after officers found that mobile homes were being stationed without planning permission.

According to the planning statement for the new caravans, the applicant "acknowledges" this notice, and has "ceased all unauthorised activities pending the determination of this application".

The statement added that the application has been prepared to "address concerns raised by the council" and to "establish a lawful planning framework for the proposed development".

However, the planning officer ultimately decided that these unauthorised works "weigh against the grant of planning permission".