Latest on planning row over campsite at Heacham in Norfolk

Nigel Marsh applied to West Norfolk Council for a lawful development certificate after a lengthy wrangle over his site off the South Beach Road at Heacham, near King's Lynn, which opened in 2018.

It came after the council abandoned legal action over the campsite, which Mr Marsh maintains does not require planning permission.

Now officials have turned down the application, over fears the site will have "a likely significant impact" on wildlife.

Nigel Marsh maintains his campsite at Heacham is lawful (Image: Chris Bishop)

Their rejection letter states: "The LPA [local planning authority] can confirm that no application has been made under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

"The LPA therefore concludes that the development is unlawful, and the council may issue an enforcement notice."

Last month, Mr Marsh won three planning appeals against West Norfolk Council, which has also been told it must pay his costs - reckoned to be around £10,000 - after a government inspector found the authority had acted "unreasonably".

He said he now planned to go down the same route over its latest refusal, adding: "I'll appeal, I'll claim costs and I'll instruct the most expensive no-win, no-fee barrister I can find to explain the habitats regulations to the council."

The latest skirmish comes after a stand-off with officialdom over who can use toilets in a converted farm building on the site.

The toilets on the site, which officials say should only be used by farm workers (Image: Chris Bishop)

The council agreed planning permission in 2019 - on condition use of the loos would be restricted to farm workers.

But it later threatened enforcement action, claiming non-agricultural workers had also been using the toilets.

Mr Marsh has now applied to retain the conveniences - with the condition regarding their use removed.

The application is set to go before the council's planning committee on Monday, July 29.