Bungalow set to be allowed to remain in use as a home

A BUNGALOW that was supposed to have been demolished more than 10 years ago will be allowed to remain in use as a home. 
The future of the building was thrown into doubt in February this year when council officials tried to issue a fine to owner Mark Hazell for the breach of a planning condition. 
Cefn Henllan Bungalow, which is in the open countryside at Top Road in Llanhennock, north of Caerleon, should have been demolished in line with a condition when planning permission was granted for a “replacement” house, about 350 yards to the east, in 2011. 
But though that property has been occupied by Oliver Hazell since May 2015, after changes to the original planning permission were agreed in 2014, the original bungalow has remained standing and in use as a main residential property. 
A planning condition attached to the September 2014 permission stated: “The existing dwelling shall be demolished no later than two months after the first occupation of the replacement dwelling, and the site shall be cleared of all debris and reinstated.” 
That meant Cefn Henllan Bungalow should have been demolished by no later than July 18, 2015 but when it came to light it was still standing Monmouthshire County Council tried to issue a fine to Mark Hazell for a breach of planning permission this February. 
That was dropped in March when it was established the time in which enforcement action should have been taken had passed. 
The council then confirmed to Mr Hazell the issue was immune from enforcement action, but suggested he apply to the planning department for a certificate of lawful development for the “existing use of the building as a dwelling”. 
That application was approved as Mr Hazell was able to show his bungalow hadn’t been demolished and has remained in continual use as a main residence for at least 10 years. 
An aerial photograph of the bungalow was also supplied and planning officer Kate Young said there was no contrary evidence and the certificate was issued.  ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​