Caravan site

The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 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 land becomes a caravan site as soon as a caravan is brought onto it, regardless of the actual use of the land.

The Caravan Sites Act 1968 of itself describes its purpose as "An Act to restrict the eviction from caravan sites of occupiers of caravans and make other provision for the benefit of such occupiers; to secure the establishment of such sites by local authorities for the use of gipsies and other persons of nomadic habit, and control in certain areas the unauthorised occupation of land by such persons; to amend the definition of “caravan” in Part I of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid."

In 2019 the Sottish Statutory Instrument Order in turn amends the definition of caravan in section 13(2) of the Caravan SitesAct 1968 (“the 1968 Act”) to allow for twin-unit structures. "Section 13 (twin-unit caravans) of the 1968 Act excepts from the meaning of “caravan” in Part 1 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 twin-unit structures designed or adapted for human habitation which are composed of not more than two sections separately constructed and designed to be assembled on site by bolts, clamps or other devices, which when assembled are physically capable of being moved by road from one place to another and whose dimensions exceed specified dimensions."

See also the article Changes to permitted development in 2023 for further updates.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
• Controls on traveller development.
• Gypsies and travellers and travelling showpeople.
• Mobile home.
• Review of housing needs for caravans and houseboats.
• Revised planning policy for traveller sites.