Outwell family told to stop living at Baldwins Drove home

The Vickers will now have to move out and find elsewhere to stay after they were told to "permanently cease" using the land for residential purposes.

It comes after a two-year battle to appeal the decision but despite their efforts, it was dismissed this month.

The buildings were built on land between Well Creek Road and Baldwins Drove (Image: Google)

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The family said they have owned the land at Robyn's Nest off Baldwins Drove in Outwell since 2009, which had an assortment of agricultural outbuildings and caravans on the site.

Over the next decade, the land was visited on a number of occasions by officials following complaints people were living there but no further action was taken until almost a decade later.

Trouble arose in 2021, when the council decided that a barn, which was given planning permission for agricultural use, was being used as a home.

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The family were hit with an enforcement notice in September and told they had little over a month to stop living there.

Having previously denied living there, they admitted that this was a lie told to the council out of fear they would lose their home.

The family were living on land close to Well Creek, which runs through Outwell (Image: Chris Bishop)

Hopes this may sway inspector Peter Willows by showing they have lived there for a longer time backfired, who said this was not backed up with evidence.

They also attempted to block the enforcers by appealing the decision, arguing as they are a Romany Gypsy family, they should be permitted to live there due to it being classed as a gypsy/traveller site.

But Mr Willows deemed the fact permanent structures made of brick and steel had been erected, it did not meet the character of such sites.

"I have no doubt of the implications in upholding the notice for the family," he said.

"While it will mean the family of four will lose their current home, this must be weighed against the public interest of ensuring proper planning."