Buckinghamshire farm owner wins High Court battle
A farm owner from Buckinghamshire has won a High Court fight with planners to convert a barn into a livery stable.
Anthony Williams, from near Amersham, breached planning regulations during the construction work.
As a result, Chiltern District Council planners and a government-appointed planning inspector told Mr Williams to demolish the building.
Mr Justice Thornton, QC, said it was "common sense" to allow Mr Williams to rectify the mistake.
The judge was told the livery stable was not built in accordance with "approved plans in terms of external appearance and height and a first-floor element".
Mr Williams, who owns Woodrow Farm and Shardeloes Farm near Amersham, was told to demolish the building, first by the district council and then by a government planning inspector.
He appealed to the High Court, arguing he should be allowed to remedy the planning regulation breaches.
Mr Justice Thornton, QC, said Mr Williams "made a regrettable and expensive mistake".