A planning inspector has backed a decision by Solihull planners to refuse permission for an already built outbuilding extension and access track at a Meriden home.

The applicant behind the scheme at The Woodlands in Lodge Green Lane is now facing potential enforcement action.

The long running saga began in November last year when applicant Andrew Cummings submitted a retrospective application for the extension and a new gravel access track which was built at the home in October 2023.

A planning statement included in the application submitted to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council said: "The works have been carried out on land that is currently outside the residential curtilage of the main dwelling, located within the green belt.

"The application seeks to regularise the development in accordance with national and local planning policies.

"The planning application is submitted following correspondence with Solihull Council regarding an alleged breach of planning control.

"The modest extension to the existing outbuilding is not considered to be a 'disproportionate addition' and therefore complies (with planning policies).

"The access track, enabling access from the applicant's dwelling to the outbuilding, is an engineering operation and therefore compliant.

"The design and materials are sensitive to the local character and will not cause significant harm. Therefore, based on the precedents set and the detailed policy analysis, the retrospective planning application should be approved without delay."

In February officer Mark Andrews, the authority's head of planning, design and engagement service, refused planning permission.

In a decision notice he gave reasons for refusal including it was judged to be inappropriate development in the green belt without any very special circumstances to outweigh the harm.

And the officer wrote it was a "visually intrusive extension of urbanised development into agricultural land, resulting in an unacceptable erosion of the rural character and appearance of the area."

The applicant appealed to the government's planning inspectorate with the appointed inspector Philip Barton visiting the site in May.

The inspector found the site was very well screened from public vantage points and agreed with the applicant it "would not be conspicuous within the landscape setting and would have an acceptable effect on the character and appearance of the area".

But, dismissing the appeal, the inspector wrote: "I have found that there would be harm to the green belt by reason of the proposal's inappropriateness and its effect on openness.

"Very special circumstances necessary to justify this development do not exist."

The chairman of the council's planning committee, Cllr Bob Grinsell, has been a regular critical of retrospective application.

At June's meeting he warned developers: "If you are going to build something, get permission.

"Don't build it before you have got the permission."