Case Study
Residential Caravan Site in Hampshire

Increase in number of caravans found not to be a material change of use

Green Planning Studio appealed against an enforcement notice alleging a breach of planning control of the material change in use of the land from use as a residential caravan site for 5 caravans to use as a residential caravan site for 7 caravans. The notice was quashed at appeal on the ground C case that there had not been a breach of planning control. The Inspector referred to the Reed judgement which had concluded that intensification is not sufficient to amount to a material change of use if it falls short of materially changing the definable character of the use of the land.

The Inspector concluded that the site ‘had developed into a small park home site characterised by a spacious layout and a generous amount of amenity space. As a matter of fact and degree the subsequent increase from 5 to 7 caravans has not materially changed the definable character of the use of the land, even allowing for potential off-site effects related to scale.’