Mobile Home and Caravan Site Licensing
The Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960
prohibits the use of land as a caravan site unless the occupier
holds a site licence that
has been issued by the Council.
Applying for a
Licence
An application must be completed, accompanied
by a site plan at 1:500 scale showing the layout of roads, caravans
and facilities.
For an application form contact us
on 01234 718099 or email: ehadmin@bedford.gov.uk
Please note a licence cannot be issued without
corresponding planning permission.
If you require further information, please use
the contact details above.
Exemptions
There are some exceptions:
- A caravan sited with the curtilage of a
dwelling and its use is incidental to the dwelling. This means it
cannot be occupied separately.
- A single caravan sited for not more than
two consecutive nights for a maximum of 28 days in any 12
months.
- Up to three caravans on a site of not less than
five acres for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.
- Sites occupied by exempted organisations such as
the Caravan Club.
- Sites of up to 5 caravans certified by an exempt
organisation and which are for members only.
- Sites occupied by the local authority. These are
usually gypsy sites.
- Sites for temporary and special purposes such as
caravan rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and
engineering sites and travelling salesmen.
- A site for tents only can be used for a
maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.
Licence Conditions
Licences have conditions taken from ‘model
standards’ which include:
- The type of caravan, e.g. residential, static
holiday or touring.
- The permitted density (the number per
acre/hectare) and the spacing between caravans.
- Water supply and drainage; lavatory and washing
facilities.
- Fire precautions and electrical
installations.
Are you a Caravan Site occupier?
You should have a licence already but you
should check that your name, the site name and address is correct
and up to date. Also check that the licence corresponds with your
planning permission. If not, contact us using the details
above.
If you have recently become a caravan site
occupier, licences are transferable to a new occupier but the law
requires us to give consent for the transfer. You should complete
an application form with a letter requesting for transfer.
Are you a potential site occupier?
You or your legal advisor should check that
all the land used for siting caravans has planning permission and
that the details correspond with the site licence. If you wish to
change the use of the land to a permanent caravan site use you must
have planning permission before a licence can be issued.
Copies of the Caravan and Control of
Development Act 1960 and other legislation mentioned can be
purchased from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/).
A copy of the Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960 can be
viewed at the council offices where you may also obtain an
application forms, a copy of the conditions and further help or
advice.
Contact Details
For further information or to request an
application form email: ehadmin@bedford.gov.uk or call
01234 718099.