Re: Cars displayed across road from Garage for years, now CoCo are enforcing planning
Generally planning enforcement proceedings are statute-barred after seven years, however there are exceptions:-
-If the breach contravenes a planning condition, there is no time limit for planning enforcement
-If the unauthorised activity has intensified in the past seven years and the intensification amounts to a material change in the use of the garage (question of fact and degree)
The owner should consider providing the Council with evidence that car sales have been taking place for over 20 years. If there is a breach of planning law that is not statute-barred, then the owner will either need to cease the use or seek retention permission.