®Planning appeal decision
The Laurels, Fen Road, Cambridgeshire, CB4 1TU
Planning appeal 3370686 at The Laurels, Fen Road, Cambridgeshire, CB4 1TU (South Cambridgeshire District Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 2 February 2026 by Inspector Madge M, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the appellants have demonstrated, on the balance of probabilities, that the material change of use of the land to a residential caravan site occurred before the material date of 8 July 2015 and has continued without significant interruption for 10 years or more (ground (d)).
Without planning permission, the change of use of the land to a residential caravan site and the laying of hardstanding
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Madge M
- Postcode
- CB4 1TU
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the appellants have demonstrated, on the balance of probabilities, that the material change of use of the land to a residential caravan site occurred before the material date of 8 July 2015 and has continued without significant interruption for 10 years or more (ground (d))
- Whether the period for compliance specified in the notice falls short of what should reasonably be allowed (ground (g))
What decided it
The appellants failed to provide sufficiently precise and unambiguous evidence that the specific residential caravan site use had commenced and been retained before the material date of 8 July 2015.
The Inspector weighed the personal needs of residents to find alternative homes against the wider public harm caused by the unauthorised use, concluding that a nine-month compliance period struck a reasonable balance.
What the Inspector cited
- Judgments
- Reed v Bracknell Forest [2014] EWCA Civ 241; Hertfordshire County Council v SSCLG and Metal and Waste Recycling Limited [2012] EWCA Civ 1473; R v Thanet District Council v Kent International Airport Plc [2001] P&CR 2; I'm Your Man Limited v SSE [1999] PLCR 109; Gravesham Borough Council v SSE (1984) 47 P&CR 142; Brooks and Burton Ltd v SSE & Dorset (1978) 35 P&CR 27; R (oao Childs) v FSS & Test Valley BC [2005] EWHC 2368 (Admin); Hertfordshire County Council v SSCLG & Metal and Waste Recycling Limited [2012] EWHC 277 (Admin); Broxbourne Borough Council v SSE and others [1978]
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in South Cambridgeshire
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Quashed On Legal Grounds30 July 20263378207Southgate Farm, Fen Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB4 1GJ
- Notice upheld12 January 20263369306Heron Farm, Long Drove, Waterbeach, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB25 9LR
- Notice upheld12 January 20263369305Heron Farm, Long Drove, Waterbeach, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB25 9LR
- Notice varied and upheld9 January 20263362958Dernford Farm, Dernford Farm Road, Stapleford, Cambridge , CB22 5DY
- Notice varied and upheld17 December 20253368769New England Farm, Tadlow, Royston, SG8 0EN
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.