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A caravan site is now allowed to operate all year round. The Southdown Way Caravan and Camping Site, near Hassocks, had a lawful development certificate awarded by the South Downs National Park planning authority. Planning permission had been granted to use the land for caravans back in 2007 but only on the condition that they would not be stationed for more than 28 days a year.
The recent application sought to obtain permission for the continuous use of the caravan and camping site, based on the fact that the campsite had been operating year round - in breach of planning permission - for more than a decade. If it can be proven that a breach of planning permission has been going on unchallenged for ten years or more, it can no longer be objected to or prosecuted. READ NEXT: Seafront restaurant allowed to keep beach huts permanently The application was supported by two statutory declarations from Gloria Hill, owner of Southdown Way Caravan and Camping Park, and Gloria Wright, trustee and company secretary.
Ms Hill's declaration detailed her personal testimony that the large field has been used year-round for leisure camping and caravanning since March 2014. Ms Wright, who has been a trustee of the charity for 39 years, provided her knowledge of the site dating back to 2006, when it was converted from a farm to a camping and caravan park by Sussex Lantern. Annual booking records further supported these claims, showing that every year bookings exceeded the permitted 28 days per year.
The council's planning report acknowledged the breach of the permitted development right, which allows for a caravan usage 28 days a year, had been going on for more than ten years. Evidence submitted in support of the application included booking lists which showed the number of days the site was in use for each year between 2014-2024. READ NEXT: Plans to convert town centre building into flats The report added: "Consideration has been given as to whether this breach has been 'concealed'.
"However, while the owner has not reported the camping use of the land to the authority for planning purposes, there have been no overt attempts to actively hide the development from the authority either. "In light of the evidence provided and no evidence to contradict the applicant's assertions, on the balance of probabilities the authority is satisfied that the camping and caravan site has been in use for a period in excess of ten years and a certificate of existing lawful use can be issued.".
