A Biddulph caravan park must be returned to its original state after a retrospective planning application for the area was refused.

The retrospective application - meaning an application submitted after the work has already been carried out - was submitted by a Mr Mark Hall and relates to a caravan area on Knypersley Mill Farm on Judgefield Lane, which overlooks Knypersley Reservoir.

The application states that the area of land was originally cleared to be used as a horse area, but later changed its use in 2015 to site privately owned caravans by members of the public who store them on the site when they are not in use and collect them to use them for holidays off the site.

The area is around 20 metres by 50 metres and has space for 20 caravans.

A report by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's Planning Officers states: "There are no formal enclosures, the edges are contained by the edges of exposed earth excavation, and the surface is a mix of sand and grassy patches.

A planning statement prepared on behalf of the application argued that the caravan park had been operated "without any harm on amenity, the openness of the greenbelt or the wider area".

However, the district council's planning officers disagreed and concluded that the park did in fact harm the green belt, saying: "With regard to the change of use of the outdoor areas, the footprint and volume of the caravan structures, particularly of the number and density proposed, undoubtedly affects openness when compared to the pre-existing use, which is said to have been a horse arena which is commonly a surfaced area, generally free from structures, to provide facility for outdoor sport and recreation in a way that preserves openness."

The council refused the application, meaning the applicant can now be required to return the land to its previous state.

Biddulph Nub News reported previously how plans were submitted earlier this month to extend the site, adding 11 more caravans and four "shepherd hut" camping pods. It is not yet clear whether the recent retrospective refusal will affect this previous application.