What is planning permission required for?
Planning permission is required if you are developing land. Development is “the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, over or under land or making of any material change in the use of any building or other land.”
Let’s consider the implications of both “building” and “building operations”. Buildings, as we know them now, have a broader meaning, as people are building all sorts out of… well, all sorts! But the courts have decided that a caravan cannot be a ‘building’. The actual definition of a ‘Caravan’ is “any structure designed or adapted for human habitation which is capable of being moved from one place to another whether by being towed or by being transported on a motor vehicle or trailer”.
Technically, if you are siting a Static Caravan or Mobile Home within the garden/planning permitted grounds of your property, it is very unlikely you will need planning permission, provided a relationship remains between the house and the Caravan i.e. Occupants (kids, elderly relatives etc) are using the house to shower, or eat etc. So it is an addition to the house and not a separate dwelling.
However, if you already have a caravan or structure the size of a caravan, you should be able to replace it with a New Static Caravan or Mobile Home under permitted development, sometimes provided it’s been there for more than 10 years.
If you require professional assistance we recommend the National Annexe Providers Consultancy – https://napc.uk/
Do I need planning permission for my mobile home?
Technically, no, as it is a mobile structure and not changing or developing the land it will be on. But there are some points to take into consideration, such as; where is the caravan going to be sited? How long will it stay there, and what is it going to be used for? Typically, if you’d like to live in a caravan on a plot of land you will need to apply for planning permission. However, if you are doing a self-build or renovation project and your house is uninhabitable then you will have no problem gaining permission for one.
For more in-depth advice feel free to give us a call as people are using static caravans and mobile homes for all sorts of uses! For example, have you seen our famous Sunrise Lodges? A fully self-contained annex solution working out around 50% cheaper than building!
Please Note: whilst endeavoring to provide you with as much information as possible; we are not planning specialists and would advise seeking local council advice before siting a static caravan or mobile home on your own land. Also, within some residential areas in the UK you may have a covenant on your house deeds specifying whether or not a caravan can be placed upon the land, this is often a good place to start.
Mobile Home Planning Legal References
Section 55(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 defines ‘development’, which requires planning permission, as carrying out of building and other operations or making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land.
Under s 55(2)(d) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 the use of any buildings or other land within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse as such is not to be taken to involve development of the land.
The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 Schedule 1. Cases where a Caravan site License is not required. 1. Use within curtilage of a dwellinghouse. A site licence shall not be required for the use of land as a caravan site if the use is incidental to the enjoyment as such of a dwellinghouse within the curtilage of which the land is situated.
Professional Planning Advice from NAPC
We are pleased to be working with NAPC, specialists in obtaining planning permission and certificates of lawfulness for mobile homes and garden buildings. They cover all of the UK and offer a free feasibility study and advice for your project.
Garden rooms and annexes are more popular than ever. Indeed, they’re the go-to solution for those embracing multi-generational living for an elderly loved one, or an ultra-versatile space. Seeking advice for your annexe planning permission application early in the process will help you avoid delays further down the line.
NAPC are a specialist annexe planning consultancy with a wealth of experience in securing annexe planning permission, as well as garden rooms and mobile homes (the latter under the caravan act). And, working with private homeowners and garden room providers, providing a complete range of personalised annexe planning application services. From an initial conversation scoping out your ideas and advising on the best route forward. To helping prepare plans and your planning application, that NAPC will submit on your behalf to your Local Planning Authority.
A feasibility study to determine what you can do is FREE! For a ‘certificate of lawfulness’ application they only charge £995 + vat, there is a small fee of £216 to pay to the council, and this takes approximately 8-10 weeks.
NAPC ensure the highest standards of design, construction and delivery for all your outbuilding needs, be it an annexe for an elderly loved one, a garden office, gym or hobby space for yourself. With a desk based service we’ll be able to take the planning stresses away, wherever you are in England or Wales.
For advice and more visit https://napc.uk/
Call on 01285 283200
Email – joe@napc.uk