THE owner of a Stokesley business is appealing against a planning decision to force him to move from his home.

Derek MacDonald bought the Riverside Nurseries business in Stokesley about six months ago.

Since then, he has built a farm shop on the land, using planning permission the previous owner had secured and sited a caravan/bungalow for him and his family to live in.

However, Hambleton District Council says the siting of the caravan was not authorised and it has "a significant and detrimental impact on the open character and visual amenity of the countryside."

The council has sent an enforcement notice to Mr MacDonald, telling him he has two months to remove the caravan.

Mr MacDonald feels this is not enough time for him to find somewhere else for his family, including three children, to live.

Planners also say the farm shop has not been built according to plans, because some of the positions of the windows have changed.

They want it altered according to the original plans, describing the building as "unsympathetic and incongruous with the surrounding landscape.

Steve Hesmondalgh, of Blackett Hart and Pratt solicitors, who is representing Mr MacDonald, explained he believed Mr MacDonald had a reasonable case to maintain the caravan/bungalow, where he and his family lived.

Mr Hesmondalgh said: "The council responded quickly to the development. They failed to allow Mr MacDonald the opportunity to make his case before taking action.

"We consider there is a strong case for a successful result from the appeal."

Mr MacDonald is appealing against the council's enforcement notices on each building.

The Planning Inspectorate is expected to make a decision on the appeal within the next few months.