A West Wight caravan park, in breach of its planning permission for over 20 years, is now seeking to avoid enforcement action by legalising its all-year-round occupancy.
Silver Glades Caravan Park on Solent Road, Cranmore, is seeking a Lawful Development Certificate to use the site as a caravan park 365 days a year — despite operating as such since April 1999.
Authorised for 8 months
The land is authorised for use as a caravan and camping site from 1st March to 31st October only each year.
No action has ever been taken against the breach, planning agents say, nor a breach of condition notice served.
Necessary to demonstrate it’s been in breach
Planning documents submitted by Laister Planning, on behalf of the applicant Silverglade Court, say they are trying to establish the lawful principle of the site so it is necessary to demonstrate it had been used in breach of planning for at least ten or more continuous years.
If it has, and the lawful development certificate is issued, it is then immune from enforcement action.
‘Been that way since 1980’
Through a planning statement, Laister Planning has laid out its evidence to support the application, saying the caravans, in their current location, have been that way since 1980.
Aerial images of the site, they say, show the caravans, the ancillary infrastructure and facilities have continued to be physically consistent features on the land.
Only moved to be replaced
They also argue the nature of static caravans, once installed, have a degree of permanency, so it is highly probable the only time they would have been removed was to be replaced.
Permission was first granted for a caravan park on the site in 1959 with the stipulation it could only be used from 1st March to 31st October.
Through a series of planning applications, the site has been extended and altered to what it is today.
View the plans
To view the application, 22/00627/CLEUD, you can visit the council’s planning register.
The public consultation is open until 16th May.
Oak trees felled
The caravan park made headlines last year when it felled mature oak trees in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with no licence.
Cranmore residents branded the decimation a disaster and a Tree Preservation Order was slapped on the site following the felling.
It stopped any further destruction without permission, on the grounds the trees were at risk from development pressures and inappropriate works.
Criminal investigation still ongoing
The matter was being investigated by the Forestry Commission but has since been referred to Defra’s Investigation Services in December.
The criminal investigation is still ongoing and a Defra spokesperson could not comment further.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Image: © Spence Willard
