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.

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• 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.