A CALL to allow a caravan occupied without permission for 30 years to remain a home has been given the go-ahead by county planners.
In a certificate of lawful development application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Wendy Campbell, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, sought permission to keep the caravan and associated buildings at Warreston Lodge, Cosheston, the caravan having been on site since 1996.
An application for a certificate of lawfulness allows an applicant to stay at a development if they can provide proof of occupancy over a prolonged period.
The caravan site forms part of a 40-acre holding owned by Wendy Campbell who resides at nearby Warreston Farm; the caravan being occupied by Clive Hetherington who has been a tenant of the caravan since 1996, prior to Ms Campbell purchasing the holding in 2003.
A supporting statement said: “The caravan has been openly used, and no attempt has been made to conceal the development at any time since its occupation as a residential unit in 1996.”
As evidence of continual usage, it said the caravan was connected to mains electricity, with invoices to Mr Hetherington and the ‘Caravan,’ and also had an independent Royal Mail postal address which reinforces it forming a residential unit.
It also said Pembrokeshire County Council had confirmed Mr Hetherington has been registered as a resident at the Caravan, Warreston Lodge since the April 1, 1996, along with rental books showing continuous occupation and rental payments from August 2003 up until March 2026, along with aerial photographic images showing structures and a caravan being in situ since 1996.
It went on to say: “The affidavits accompanying the application clearly refer to living in the caravan, with no mention to a functional link to the main house. Furthermore, the caravan has only ever had one occupier whom is not a relative of the applicant and has resided in the caravan for residential purposes prior to Ms Campbell owning the land, thereby there is no link to the caravan being occupied in connection with Warreston Farm.
“The use has existed continually for a period of over 10 years with no intervening uses.”
An officer report recommending the granting of a certificate said: “Whilst the rent book evidence does not extend to the full period claimed, it nonetheless demonstrates occupation over a period significantly exceeding 10 years. The pattern and consistency of the entries, together with site observations, support the conclusion that the use has not been abandoned or interrupted.”
In granting approval, it said the relevant immunity period is 10 years, and the application demonstrates the caravan “had a continuous residential use for a period of time in excess of 10 years and the sheds have been on site for a period of time in excess of four years”.
