Appeal over changing Shripney holiday caravans to permanent homes

Arun District Council granted planning permission for the latest extension of 12 additional mobile homes on Shripney Garden Caravan Park back in 2012.

This permission had a condition attached which stated that these should be for holiday purposes only and could not be a persons’ sole or main place of residence.

However in 2017 Connor Park Homes Ltd applied to remove this condition so the homes could be used as a persons’ sole place of residence.

The application argued: “The land represents previously developed land and by making better use of the land which is already developed the pressure to release greenfield sites would be reduced.”

Given the size of the site, the applicant argued it was not of strategic importance to the district’s tourism industry.

But Arun refused the application in 2018.

Officers argued the principle of permanent residential development on this site was contrary to Arun’s policies, withe the intention of the neighbourhood plan to focus development within the built up area boundary.

The application would also lead to the loss of 12 caravans serving a tourism use.

Connor Park Homes appealed against both the refusal and an enforcement notice issued by Arun in 2019 relating to alleged breach of the condition due to permanent occupation of the static caravans.

Concluding its case, Connor Park Homes argued: “The use of the site on a permanent residential basis would also not involve the introduction of isolated housing in the countryside because the units are sited adjoining existing residential uses and relate very strongly to the existing settlement of Shripney in landscape, visual and functional terms.”

A virtual planning appeal is due to be held on Wednesday February 10, starting at 10am.

The hearing will be held as a virtual event run by an Inspector in the usual way, but with the parties invited to join via Microsoft Teams or telephone.

Anyone wishing to attend the hearing must contact the planning inspectorate case officer as soon as possible prior to the hearing, either by email or telephone after reading the hearing attendance information.

When contacting the case officer, it would be helpful if you could confirm whether you want to take an active part in the proceedings or attend only as an observer.

All registered participants will receive individual joining instructions providing details of any requirements, guidance and support, whether joining by Teams or telephone.

Case officer contact at the planning inspectorate: Eleanor Morris, telephone: 0303 444 5312 Email: [email protected]