Retrospective permission for holiday lets at house

A house in rural South Staffordshire can continue to be used for short-term holiday lets, despite police being called about a gathering involving footballers.

Neighbours complained about noise, alleged drug-taking and cars blocking driveways in Oaken, near Wolverhampton, during the incident last year, a report to South Staffordshire District Council revealed.

The owner of the two-storey house in Oaken Lane told the council booking procedures had been strengthened and stricter noise conditions had been introduced since the incident.

A supporting statement said that the property had been marketed as a "family and dog-friendly, luxury holiday property" and "not suitable for stag or hen parties".

The property had been operating as a holiday let for more than 18 months before a retrospective change of use application was submitted to South Staffordshire District Council at the start of 2026.

The application was recommended for approval by planning officers, and committee members voted to grant permission last week.

Jack Gallimore-Newcombe, who spoke against the application at Tuesday's meeting, said: "A property marketed at up to 10 guests inevitably generates a level of activity, vehicle movements, arrivals, departures, outdoor socialising and noise that exceeds what residents should reasonably expect from a normal dwelling.

"The report acknowledges that police received three separate calls relating to a major disturbance at this property - the police report records complaints about excessive noise, alleged drug use, large numbers of people and vehicles and blocked roads and driveways."

He said it demonstrated "exactly the type of harm that residents fear will reoccur if this use is permanently authorised".

Ward councillor Val Chapman also objected to the application, saying short-term lets involved a high turnover of guests who had no long-term connection to the area.

Applicant Lee Holder apologised to the committee for not obtaining planning consent before the change of use, saying he believed it was not required.

"I appreciate my neighbours' concerns and I would probably be asking questions myself if the situation was reversed," he said.

Holder told the meeting that the disturbance in July 2025 was caused by a booking made only two days before, while him and his wife were away on holiday.

He added: "Since that incident we have strengthened our booking procedures, introduced stricter noise conditions, installed external cameras, updated our contracts to allow us to remove guests if they break rules."

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