A DEVELOPER has been dealt a significant blow in its efforts to establish a permanent mobile home park on the outskirts of Churt.

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) this week ruled against Countrywide Park Homes’ application to overturn a historic condition limiting the use of caravans at Symondstone Farm in Wishanger Lane to holiday use only.

It represents a victory for hundreds of Churt villagers who formed a campaign group to fight the developer’s plans, and comes just days after the campaign was featured on BBC South Today.

Planning permission was granted in 1961 to house up to 70 caravans at Symondstone Farm, but with the limitation that these be used ‘for holiday occupation only and none shall be used for permanent living accommodation’.

The farm was subsequently utilised as a seasonal holiday site until around 2010, typically closing each year between the end of October and Easter.

However, earlier this year the farm’s new owners Countrywide Park Homes applied for a certificate of lawfulness arguing that the condition relating to holiday use is ‘imprecise’ and unenforceable, as well as challenging the number of caravans allowed on the site.

The developer began marketing three-bedroom detached bungalows for £349,995 on property website Rightmove, and in recent weeks began constructing hard standing on the farm as well as transporting several mobile homes to the site.

EHDC intervened last Thursday, however, reinforcing the 1961 restrictions on holiday use.

Its decision notice stated: “A straightforward and common sense interpretation of [the 1961 planning permission] leads to the conclusion that the use of a caravan for anything other than holiday accommodation is prohibited by the condition”.

Explaining how the holiday use limitation will be enforced, it added: “In practice [officers] will discover the facts about the use of the land from a variety of sources…and take a common sense view on what the accommodation is being used for.”

EHDC has conceded the limitation on the number of caravans allowed on the site is less clear, as the ’70 caravans’ described in the 1961 planning consent is not contained in a formal condition.

However, the council added that in practice a higher number of caravans on the site “could amount to a change of use by intensification” requiring a new planning application.

The council’s certificate of lawfulness also defines the areas of the farm on which caravans can be sited and grants protection to a ‘droving road’ running parallel to Wishanger Lane as well as excluding the Symondstone farm buildings from the campsite area.

Richard Allen, representing the Symondstone Community Action Group, welcomed the council’s ruling and said the campaign group are now exploring options to limit the number of holiday caravans allowed on the site.

He added: “We are very pleased but aware that the developer may potentially appeal the decision. If that is the case we are prepared to assist EHDC in defending any challenge.”