A holiday park in the New Forest village of Milford-on-Sea has received approval for changes to its caravan pitches despite objections from the local parish council. Shorefield Holidays Limited submitted plans to convert 12 touring caravan pitches, which have not been in place for more than 40 years, into static caravan pitches at Shorefield Country Park.
The application also proposed relocating 10 existing static pitches within the Shorefield Road site.
The planning committee of New Forest District Council reviewed the application on March 11. Members noted that the touring pitches were originally approved in 1964 and were in use until the early 1980s.
The lawfulness of these pitches was confirmed with a certificate of lawful development issued in October 2024. The relocation of the 10 static pitches had also been confirmed as lawful in a separate certificate in February 2025.
Planning consultant James Blake, representing Shorefield Holidays, stated, “The only difference between the fallback position and the proposal before you today is that the 12 pitches would be static rather than touring.”
He added, “In planning terms, the proposal represents a modest, logical adjustment within the park, reflecting demand for how the site operates today.”
Some residents raised concerns, particularly about the ecological impact and density of the proposed layout. Chris Rustom said, “Our biggest objection is that they are packing them in too tight. You have got the light pollution, you have got the noise pollution, and it is just going to wreck the habitat.”
Milford-on-Sea Parish Council expressed strong opposition, according to the Daily Echo. Councillor David Royle described the proposal as “a cynical attempt to increase the capacity of the park by the back door,” noting that Shorefield had not physically implemented or marketed the previously approved touring pitches. He urged the council to require a new application to formally increase the park size.
Councillor Richard Frampton, a member of the planning committee, countered that the changes did not constitute an increase in numbers, describing them as “just an adjustment of boxes.”
The application was approved with nine votes in favor and two against. For business owners in the outdoor hospitality sector, this case highlights the importance of understanding fallback positions, lawful development certificates, and local council objections when planning park modifications.