A school has had to prove it has been using a field as a playing field for over 10-years to gain immunity from enforcement action.

The Downley School, a primary academy, used declarations, emails, aerial images and social media records to demonstrate it had been using "top field" for 25 years.

This was to gain a certificate of lawfulness for the use of the field, a formal legal recognition to protect its status as a school playing field.

On March 2, this was granted.

The proposal explained: "The top field has been part of the school grounds since its construction.

"Following the school's transition to academy status, Buckinghamshire County Council has leased the field to the school.

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"Top field has been maintained bi-annually by the school’s grounds maintenance contractor and has been used in relation the school activities for educational and physical needs.

"Between 2019 and 2022 the school kept sheep on the top field which were used to support the outdoor learning lead and supporting the SEN pupils."

A council planning officer stated: "The Local Planning Authority is satisfied on the basis of the evidence submitted, and on the balance of probability, that the use of the land as described in the First Schedule as a school playing field has been present for a period of 10 or more years.

"Therefore, the granting of a Certificate can be justified and is granted.

"The land in question for the specified and granted use is therefore, immune from any enforcement action."