Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960
The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 is a UK Act of Parliament relating to the licensing and control of caravan sites. It was passed into law following a 1959 report by Sir Arton Wilson which found unclear and insufficient legislation relating to people living in caravans, and that local authorities did not have the proper powers to deal with caravan housing.
See also Changes to permitted development in 2023
The Act stipulates that occupiers of land must acquire a license from the local borough or district council before using it as a caravan site. The authority has the power to refuse, revoke or impose limitations on a license if it is deemed necessary.
The Act defines a ‘caravan site’ as ‘...land on which a caravan is stationed for the purposes of human habitation and land which is used in conjunction with land on which a caravan is so stationed’. This means that the land becomes a caravan site as soon as a caravan is brought onto it, regardless of the actual use of the land.
The Act allows a homeowner to use their land as a caravan site if its use for that purpose is ‘...incidental to the enjoyment as such of a dwelling house within the curtilage of which the land is situated.’
According to the Act, a caravan-owner can use land as a caravan site as long as the following conditions are met:
- They remain on the land for no more than two consecutive nights.
- Only one caravan used for human habitation is situated on the land.
- The land is not used as a caravan site for more than 28 days in any 12-month period.
Updates to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 are the Caravan Sites Act 1968, The Caravan Sites Act 1968 (Amendment of Definition of Caravan) (Scotland) Order 2019, and The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2023.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Ancillary uses of buildings.
- Change of use class.
- Controls on traveller development.
- Gypsies and travellers and travelling showpeople.
- Planning legislation.
- Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act.
- Review of housing needs for caravans and houseboats.
- Revised planning policy for traveller sites.
- Temporary use.
- Town and Country Planning Act.
- Use class designation for land and buildings.
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings for people to come home to... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”