A Cross Ash landowner has three months to comply with an enforcement action against the unlawful siting of a caravan.

Andrew Phillips’ mobile home was the subject of an MCC enforcement action after it was deemed to be an “unlawful development” and “unauthorised change of use from agricultural to residential use.”

Mr Phillips, a community councillor for the Cross Ash ward of Skenfrith Community Council had sited the mobile home and kennels along with other wooden structures on his premises, Plas Ivor Cottage at Cross Ash.

The enforcement notice requires him to cease the residential use of the land, remove the mobile home in its entirety from the land and remove all kennels and wooden structures associated with the residential use within three months.

Despite Mr Phillips appealing against the enforcement notice, the inspector Mr R Duggan BSC, concluded that the sighting was unlawful, confirming that the enforcement notice was upheld and planning commission was refused on the application under the 1990 act planning Act.

Mr Phillips confirmed at the hearing that although one of the occupants, Mr Corey Wright, assists the appellant on his farm in the evenings and at weekends when required, the appeal and the deemed planning application does not seek planning permission for the caravan as a rural enterprise dwelling under TAN6.

The appeal decision noted that the caravan has been occupied by Mr Corey Wright and Miss Molly Bryne since the autumn of 2023.

“The occupants are a young couple who are friends of the appellant’s son, and the appellant provided them with the caravan to live in temporarily.

“The appellant is seeking permission for the occupation of the caravan by Mr Corey Wright and Miss Molly Bryne for a further temporary period of two years.”

Mr Phillips also said that the occupants “cannot afford to purchase or rent a suitable property within close proximity to Cross Ash to accommodate themselves and their working dogs” providing the Inspector with evidence of the cost of properties to rent within 3 and 5 miles of Cross Ash and also highlighted the distinct shortage of rental properties available.

Mr Phillips confirmed at the hearing that Corey Wright currently works for his father’s scaffolding business based in Abergavenny, and Molly Bryne currently works as a teaching assistant. As such, the occupants already travel by car to their places of work. The Inspector was not persuaded by the argument that properties within the towns of Monmouth or Abergavenny would be unsuitable for the occupants as it would increase their travelling distance to and from work.

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said: “Monmouthshire County Council has taken enforcement action against the unlawful development relating unauthorised material change of use of the land from agriculture to residential use including the associated siting of mobile home & kennels/wooden structures in Cross Ash. The appellant appealed that enforcement action however PEDW have dismissed this appeal, and the enforcement notice has been upheld. The landowner has three months to cease the residential use of the land, removing the mobile and the associated structures at the site.