Weston Longville holiday let is being lived in unlawfully

Weston Equestrian Centre in Weston Longville has four on-site lodges which it uses for temporary accommodation, allowing visitors and holidaymakers to stay for up to six weeks but no more. 

Planning permission to convert one of the units into permanent housing for a full-time worker was granted in April last year, but a second unit is also being occupied permanently, according to Broadland District Council, which breaches its conditions of tenancy.

Weston Equestrian Centre in Morton Lane (Image: Google Maps)

It said: "The breach essentially means there's a full-time residence in the countryside which is at odds with the Greater Norwich Local Plan which aims to create sustainable communities.

"Dwellings outside of the settlement limit may be permitted where it can be demonstrated there is a need for a full-time worker to live on-site, however, the occupiers of the holiday unit in this instance are not in full-time employment at the equestrian centre."

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But Weston Equestrian Centre refuses to evict its tenants on moral grounds. 

A representative said: "The occupants have been actively seeking alternative accommodation.

The four lodges are located on the centre's land (Image: Broadland District Council)

"While we agree that they cannot stay in the lodge permanently we do not wish to make a couple homeless and put them on the streets.

"Therefore we appeal on the basis that they will continue to seek alternative accommodation but that the time constraints of the enforcement notice are not realistic given the needs of this couple along with the poor state of the rental market."

The council's notice gives the occupants 12 months to vacate the let. 

Enforcement officials are due to make a decision in the coming months.