A man has lived in a caravan in Wales for 30 years without permission, but he will be allowed to continue living there due to the amount of time that has passed. The caravan at Warreston Lodge in Cosheston, Pembrokeshire, has been there since 1996 and has been occupied by Clive Hetherington throughout that period, even though it was never officially recognized as a home by Pembrokeshire County Council.
Background of the Property
The caravan is part of a 40-acre plot owned by Wendy Campbell, who lives at the adjacent Warreston Farm, which she purchased in 2003. Since buying the site 23 years ago, Ms. Campbell has allowed Mr. Hetherington to continue living there. Ms. Campbell has now submitted an application to the council for permission to retain the 1996 caravan for Mr. Hetherington. Through her agent, Preseli Planning Ltd, she applied for permission for the van to remain a home on the basis that Mr. Hetherington had already lived there for 30 years.
Certificate of Lawfulness
An application for a certificate of lawfulness enables an applicant to remain at a development if they can demonstrate evidence of occupation over an extended period. A supporting statement reads: "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." As proof of continuous use, it highlighted that the caravan was connected to mains electricity, with bills addressed to Mr. Hetherington and "the caravan", and also possessed a distinct Royal Mail postal address which confirms it constitutes a residential unit.
Evidence Presented
The documentation also revealed that Pembrokeshire County Council has verified Mr. Hetherington's registration as a resident at the caravan at Warreston Lodge since April 1, 1996, supported by rental records demonstrating uninterrupted occupancy and payments spanning from August 2003 through to March 2026, alongside aerial photographs confirming the presence of structures and a caravan on site since 1996. The submission continued: "The affidavits accompanying the application clearly refer to living in the caravan, with no mention to a functional link to the main house. Furthermore, the caravan has only ever had one occupier whom is not a relative of the applicant and has resided in the caravan for residential purposes prior to Ms. Campbell owning the land, thereby there is no link to the caravan being occupied in connection with Warreston Farm. The use has existed continually for a period of over 10 years with no intervening uses."
Council Decision
An officer's report advocating for the approval of a certificate reads: "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." In granting approval, it said the relevant immunity period is 10 years, and the application demonstrates the caravan "had a continuous residential use for a period of time in excess of 10 years and the sheds have been on site for a period of time in excess of four years."
