A WOMAN who defended her right to live in a wooden hut on her own land has won a battle to stay there.

But Dinah Thompson will have to make changes to the way she uses the old shepherd’s hut at her property Arne Barn, near Wareham.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Miss Thompson appealed against Purbeck District Council’s enforcement action against her.

The authority said the fact she was living in the hut constituted a change of use and needed planning permission.

But Miss Thompson argued that she only spent 60-90 days a year in the summer months living in the hut, as she let out her main Arne Barn property to holidaymakers.

Now, a planning inspector has granted her a partial victory.

Graham Self said Miss Thompson could continue to use the hut for residential purposes, but upheld other parts of the council’s requests.

Although she can carry on using the hut, Miss Thompson will have to remove a hard surfaced area, disconnect her electricity supply and remove rubble and building materials from the land.

Miss Thompson’s solicitor, Lionel Fynn, said: “It’s very satisfactory that the notice requiring her to get out has been quashed, but the reasons are rather puzzling.”

A council spokesman said: “Purbeck District Council is pleased to note that the Planning Inspector upheld its decision to take action against the unauthorised works to land within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Purbeck Heritage Coast.

“The Planning Inspector has kept open the opportunity for the district council to pursue further action depending upon the character of any future use of the site.”

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