Charity must remove car park

A CHARITY has been ordered to remove an illegal car park extension it built on Coventry’s green belt without planning permission.

The Penderels Trust removed a “substantial amount” of vegetation and trees from the green belt to increase its car park from 35 spaces to 43 in 2018, a meeting heard.

Works were brought to the council’s attention in April 2018 when an enforcement complaint was made, and the charity had retrospective planning permission refused in July that year.

An appeal to the Secretary of State was dismissed in April this year, with a further appeal to Coventry City Council’s planning committee rejected on Wednesday,

November 20. The charity, based on Brandon Lane in Binley and Willenhall, had to demonstrate ‘Very Special Circumstances’ to build on the green belt.

But planning officer Anne Lynch pointed to existing space at the back of the charity’s building which could have been used, adding building on green belt should be “last resort, not first resort”.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Barton, for the charity, argued the land was “compromised and degraded” and was not accessible to the public.

But Ms Lynch said: “The green belt does not need to be accessible. The green belt itself has a purpose and that’s to prevent urban sprawl and contain a development within designated areas.”

Mr Barton also argued the charity needs the spaces “in order to function sufficiently”.

But Ms Lynch said that whilst the need for additional car parking was not disputed, that in itself was not enough reason to permit taking chunks of the green belt away.

Chair of the meeting Cllr Lindsley Havard added: “It quite shocks me to see how many trees [have been removed].”

The charity gravelled over grass for the car park extention, created a wood-chipped area with outdoor seating and tables for staff, and put in “high-level fencing”.

After agreement from the planning committee, it has been ordered to remove the fencing and reinstate the green area “as a minimum”.

Ms Lynch added: “I don’t think we can get the trees reinstated.”

The charity supports independent living for people with disabilities and health conditions and works in partnership with the city council.