• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

  • News
  • Things to do
  • Radio
  • More
    • Food & drink
    • Business
  • About
    • Comments
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
  • Radio
  • WIN
  • Tonne of tins
  • Vouchers
  • Listen live »
Jorvik Viking Festival

Popular York attraction seeks proof it is operating lawfully – 11 years after opening

Photo: Piglets Adventure Farm
Mon 9 Jan, 2023 @ 7.59 am News YorkMix

A popular family attraction near York is seeking confirmation that it is operating legally – 11 years after opening.

Piglets Adventure Farm is seeking a certificate of lawfulness for ‘use of land as farm adventure park’ from City of York Council.

Many thousands of people have enjoyed a day out at Piglets, five miles north of York at Towthorpe, since it opened in 2011.

York Theatre Royal
York Theatre Royal
York Theatre Royal
York Theatre Royal #Ad

Piglets’ owner Geoffrey Sykes says in a planning statement that the farm, on Towthorpe Moor Lane, was used for agricultural purposes until 2001 when planning permission was granted for the erection of a farm shop and rural education centre.

Permission to extend the building was granted in 2004. “We are not aware of any other planning history that might conflict with the status of the use of the site,” planning documents state.

“In 2011 the family took the decision to open a farm attraction, which would be a mixture of farm animals, education, and adventure play (the ‘farm adventure park’),” Mr Sykes states.

An aerial view of Piglets Adventure Farm near York. Photograph © Google Street View

“The laying out of the site started in February 2011, and included the infrastructure (such as pathways, animal barn, stock fenced paddocks, toilets, F&B outlets and car park) as well as several items of play equipment and play areas.

“These were opened to the public as Piglets Adventure Farm in the summer of 2011, with the opening day being 29 July 2011. Since that period the site has continued to be used for this purpose.”

Piglets is now seeking a ‘Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use or Development’.

According to Holmes & Hills solicitors: “Where a person has been using a parcel of land, or developed on a parcel of land, which breaches a condition or limitation of planning permission, or has been done without permission, a person may be able to apply for a certificate of lawfulness where the relevant time period has passed.”

The relevant time period in this case is ten years.

The planning application states: “The use of the site as a farm adventure park technically became lawful in 2021 through the passage of time, ie 10 years after its initial use for this purposes.

“Since 2021, the site has operated for this same purpose, and it has not been used for any other purpose.

“As such, we trust that the Council will be able to issue CLEUD, to confirm the use of the land as a farm adventure park.”

You can see the full application here.

Trending

  1. Hundreds of York bars and cafés at risk of collapse say city leaders
  2. York pair sentenced for murder of Leeds man
  3. Store plan would mark ‘the end of the road’ for key York shopping street

Mon 9 Jan, 2023

Footer

YorkMix
News 01904 848 766
Email YorkMix news »
5-6 King's Court, Shambles, York  YO1 7LD
YorkMix Radio
General enquiries 01904 375 029
Studio/competitions 01904 375 030
Email YorkMix Radio »
Selby Superbowl, Bawtry Road, Selby  YO8 8NA
YorkMix is a trading name of YorkMix Media Ltd
Registered in England
Company number: 07814727
VAT number: 154 0364 34
© York Sound Ltd

Copyright © 2023 YorkMix Media Ltd

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT