Caravan Sites

A summary relating to the regulation of this licence (Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960) '(External Link)'  

'Caravan site' means 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.

If you are 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.

If you are 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, you should send us the licence for re-issue.

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 send us the licence with a request for transfer and we will either endorse or re-issue it.

The applicant must be entitled to use the land as a caravan site.  We will not issues a licence if:-

• the land does not have the appropriate planning permission; or
• the applicant has had a site licence revoked within the last three years,

Information relating to  Planning Permission

There are a number of exemptions which can be found in the First Schedule to the Act.  These can be summarised as follows:

1. a caravan sited within the curtilage of a dwelling and its use is incidental to the dwelling;
2. a single caravan sited for not more than 2 consecutive nights (on land on which caravans had not been sited for more than 28 days in the preceding 12 months);
3. up to 3 caravans on a site of not less than 5 acres (maximum of 28 days in any 12 months);
4. sites occupied by exempted organisations such as the Caravan Club;
5. sites of up to 5 caravans certified by an exempt organisation and which are for members only;
6. sites occupied by the local authority;
7. sites for temporary and special purposes such as agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites;
8. sites for travelling showmen (between beginning of October and end of March only).

You can complete and submit an application online via the Government's Business Link website, or alternatively, you can print the completed application and return it to us using the contact details below.

• Apply online for a caravan site licence '(External Link)'

Applications for site licences are made to the local authority in whose area the land situated and should detail the land the application.   The following supporting documents are required:

• Site Plan
• Planning Permission

A plan should be to a scale of not less than 1:500 and should show the boundaries of the site, the positions of caravan standings, and the following (where appropriate ):-

• Roads and footpaths
• Recreation spaces
• Toilet blocks, stores and other buildings
• Fire points
• Foul and surface water damage
• Parking spaces
• Water supply

There is no fee associated with this application.

We will consult with the following before determining an application:-

• The Council's Planning Section;
• GM Fire & Rescue

An officer from the Council's Licensing Section may inspect the premises prior to a licence being issued.

You can expect to be contacted by a member of the Licensing Section within 5 days of receipt of your application.  We would normally expect to let you know our decision within 8 weeks of receipt. 

Yes.  This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the Licensing Section by the end of the target completion period.

If you have not heard from the Licensing Section within a reasonable period you can contact us using the contact details blow, or you can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service .

• Model Standards for Caravan Sites (.pdf, 606KB)

Additional conditions may be attached to a licence to cover any of the following:-

• restricting when caravans can be on the site for human habitation or restricting the number of caravans that can be on the site at any one time;
• controlling the types of caravan on the site;
• controlling the positioning of the caravans or regulating the use of other structures and vehicles including tents;
• to ensure steps are taken enhance the land, including planting / replanting bushes and trees;
• fire safety and fire fighting controls;
• to ensure the sanitary and other facilities, services and equipment are supplied and maintained.

Any change of circumstances in relation to an existing licence must be notified to the relevant local authority. This includes any change in the owners / occupiers.

• Apply online to transfer a caravan site licence '(External Link)'

Any change of circumstances in relation to an existing licence must be notified to the relevant local authority. This includes the surrendering of a licence or reporting any other material change to the licence or how you operate.

• Apply online to make a change to an existing caravan site licence '(External Link)'

There are no fees associated with any change of circumstances application.

You are advised to take up any issue with the Licensing Section in the first instance.

You are advised to take up any issue with the Licensing Section in the first instance.  If a licence holder wishes to appeal against a condition attached to a licence they may appeal to Wigan & Leigh Magistrates' Court. The appeal must be made within 28 days of the licence being issued.

The local authority may alter conditions at any time but must give licence holders the opportunity to make representations about the proposed changes. If a licence holder disagrees with the alterations they may appeal to Wigan & Leigh Magistrates' Court. The appeal must be made within 28 days of the written notification of the alteration and a notice of appeal must be served on the local authority.

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct '(External Link)' will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre '(External Link)' .

• Association of Caravan & Camping Exempted Organisations (ACCEO) '(External Link)'
• British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) '(External Link)'
• British Resorts and Destinations Association '(External Link)'
• Caravan Industry Training (CITO) '(External Link)'
• Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) '(External Link)'
• Group Travel Organisers Association (GTOA) '(External Link)'
• Hotel Marketing Association '(External Link)'
• National Caravan Council (NCC) '(External Link)'