Man Granted Permission to Stay in Caravan After Three Decades
Clive Hetherington, who has resided in a caravan without official planning permission for 30 years, has been permitted to continue living there.
Since 1996, Hetherington has lived at Warreston Lodge in Cosheston, Pembrokeshire, despite the caravan not being formally recognised as a residential dwelling.
The caravan is situated on land owned by Wendy Campbell, who acquired the adjacent Warreston Farm in 2003.
Campbell allowed Hetherington to remain on the site and subsequently applied for planning permission to retain the caravan as a home, citing his long-term residence.
Planning Approval and Legal Recognition
Pembrokeshire County Council approved the application, confirming that the caravan had been used as a residence for well beyond the statutory 10-year period required for such cases.
Through Preseli Planning Ltd, Campbell submitted an application for a certificate of lawfulness, which permits continued occupation of a development if the occupant can demonstrate prolonged residence.
The application included evidence that Hetherington had lived openly at the site since 1996, supported by electricity bills, a postal address, council records, rent payments, and aerial photographs.
Documents further established that Hetherington lived independently and had no affiliation with Warreston Farm, even prior to Campbell's ownership of the land.
"The caravan has been openly used, and no attempt has been made to conceal the development at any time, since its occupation as a residential unit in 1996," the submission added.
Officer Report and Evidence Assessment
An officer's report recommending the certificate's approval noted:
"Whilst the rent book evidence does not extend to the full period claimed, it nonetheless demonstrates occupation over a period significantly exceeding 10 years.
The pattern and consistency of the entries, together with site observations, support the conclusion that the use has not been abandoned or interrupted."
