A FIELD owner who lives in a caravan onsite and has put up stables, a large shed and pet pens has been ordered to clear the site.

The Forest Council’s planning committee heard that the change of use from agricultural land beside Hill View, Morse Lane, Drybrook, was in breach of regulations,

A large hedgerow had also been illegally removed from the field and replaced with a “very large” boundary wall without planning permission, while a ruined building had been rebuilt and was being used as a storage shed.

A report to the committee by council officers said they informed the owner of their concerns in a site visit in September, but when they returned last month they found work was still ongoing on the wall, which had reached a height of 2.6 metres.

Other walls and enclosures were also being built for “equestrian use,” which were out of keeping with the open countryside setting, while play equipment and swing seating had also been installed.

Another visit discovered that while the shed and stables had been broken down, the ground level had been raised with hard core and more walls were being built for pet pens.

The report added: “The owner is currently developing this parcel of land into a residential unit... these features harm the rural character and appearance of the area.”

Councillors voted in favour of enforcement action, meaning the owner must cease living on the land, demolish all buildings, pens and walls, remove play equipment and replant the hedgerow.