A caravan park in Cranmore, which has been 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.
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.
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 10 or more continuous years. If it has, and the lawful development certificate is issued, it is then immune from enforcement action.
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. 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 each year. Through a series of planning applications, the site has been extended and altered to what it is today.
To view the application, 22/00627/CLEUD, you can visit the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 16th May.
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.
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.
Will they have to pay 20 years worth of extra rates + interest ?
So WHY did this utterly useless and inept IWC do nothing for so many years? They are totally unfit for purpose on EVERY level.
Obviously they are trying to legitimise the permanent occupancy so that they can further develop the site (and subsequently cause further destruction of countryside and wildlife).
Disgusting should be closed down and owners fined. They cut down trees without permission I believe
It’s just another site on its journey to becoming yet more land lost to housing and the destruction of nature by cutting down the trees was an early warning.
No way should permission be granted!
So, it’s been open 365 days for the last 20 years or more and no-one even gave it a second thought, complained or thought anything was wrong and yet now, because it’s come to light that it should have only been used March – October, it’s being called disgusting and the owners should be fined, the site shut down or their application to authorise its use rejected?
Someone please tell me the problem with having it open 365 days (as it is already)? What’s your objection and how does it affect you and why haven’t you said anything over the past 20 years or so?
criminal destruction of trees, shows the total disregard for operating conditions…shut it down and bankrupt the owners for their arrogance
The caravans are on site but it has never opened outside the planning restrictions according to locals living next to the site for over 40 years. The developer is trying to get permanent homes on the site.
Best thing to do is get Claire mosdell on to it. She knows how to get around planning permission and she knows were all the loop holes are. Just like she did on the paddocks she owns
There are loads of breaches of occupancy and planning permissions going on in the area where this caravan park is.
For example a great big chalet built in a garden where the owners family live .. previously they had a caravan on the site… no planning permission and as has always been the case only one lot of council tax paid. Someone else built a huge garage, no planning permission applied for. Have a drive round enforcement teams and you’ll be surprised what you will find … the place is out of the way and nobody bothers to check.
Do they not think rules and regulations apply here on the Isle of Wight? The IOW is part of the UK and have the same rules and regulations. How have the IOW Council allowed this to continue all these years?
Brown envelopes the Isle of Wight Council swim in them!
Who cares
What’s the difference being open 9mths or 12mths – well we can’t offer housing to those in need already so IWC would then be responsible for making island people homeless. Who ever dreams up this rule in 1st place. Was same down in Sandown when caravan park wanted to extend to 12mts,iwc refused on grounds of nature – few year’s later we now have housing estate of 2nd homes that have been no use to the Island community and destroyed everything in place ,now tarmac and block paving. Agree rules but no one bothered for 20yrs – the iwc and the world have far more important things to worry about after COVID etc. They have paid business rates etc