Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Minutes of Evidence


Memorandum by the Planning Inspectorate (TF 34)

  1.  We are unaware of any particularly pressing development control problem with sites for travelling showpeople. Fairs themselves are usually permitted development, as a temporary use of land. Furthermore, the associated use of land as a caravan site by the showpeople whilst travelling for the purpose of their business, is also permitted development. What they need planning permission for (though not a caravan site licence) is their winter quarters. It is thus winter quarters cases with which the Planning Inspectorate is likely to be involved.

  2.  Set out below are figures for the last three years appeals involving travelling showpeople:

    —  There were a total of 29 appeals in three years.

    —  Of 18 section 78 planning appeals, twice the normal average were allowed (12) with only one third (6) being dismissed.

    —  Of 11 section 174 enforcement appeals, only 2 of the notices were quashed, and 9 were upheld (7 with some variation).

  3.  It is likely that most of these appeals concerned winter quarters sites but in the time available we have not been able to analyse the cases.

February 2000


 
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