North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) has ordered Carl’s Auto Repair Services in Norfolk to move from its site where it has been based since the beginning of 2018, the Eastern Daily Express has reported.
Garage owner, Carl Purkiss relocated to the current site after the lease lapsed on his previous workshop and was sold for development.
Mr Purkiss, who has been in the motor trade for 19 years and set his business up in 2014, took on his current premises aware of the defined planning use but didn’t anticipate trouble making the change.
At a planning committee in November, NNDC’s planning committee refused his application to change the use from B1 (light industrial) to sui generis, which includes car repairs, arguing the use was not appropriate to a rural area.
Mr Purkiss added: “The site had previously been used for metal works, so if anything probably made more noise than what I do.
“If anything there is more of a need for auto repairs in a rural area – having a car is the only way some people can get around so they need places to get them fixed if anything gets wrong.”
Expensive move
Having spent thousands of pounds making the move happen, Mr Purkiss said should he be ordered to move it could likely be the end of his business altogether.
He said: “I honestly do not know what I would do if I do not win the appeal.
“I have been here 18 months and am only just financially recovering from the cost of moving.
“I do not think I can face the prospect of having to move so would likely have to give up, it would be financial suicide [to move again].
“I want to keep my business local and provide a service to the area – I have a loyal customer base locally and want to keep it that way.
“There’s nowhere else for me to go.”
The sole trader employs four people, including apprentices.
Enforcement notice
After the refusal of his planning application, North Norfolk District Council issued an enforcement notice against Mr Purkiss, ordering him to move his business on.
The notice, which was issued in February, also says Mr Purkiss had built a fence and placed a shipping container on the site without permission.
It reads: “It is not considered that the use is appropriate in scale and nature to the rural location of the land, nor does it represent the sustainable growth or expansion of a business in a rural area.”
It calls on Mr Purkiss to “permanently cease all activities on the land associated with the car repair business” and to “remove all waste, car parts and tools from the land”.
It also calls on him to permanently remove the fence and shipping container.
A planning appeal against the enforcement is under way.
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