Wiltshire Council has granted planning permission to expand the number of residential caravan pitches at Greenacres Mobile Park in Semington, near Trowbridge, following a decision issued on March 10.
The approval allows the number of pitches on the site to increase from 14 to 24, based on an application originally submitted in June of the previous year.
According to the planning officer’s report, each of the proposed pitches will accommodate a static caravan and a touring caravan, along with parking for two vehicles and boundary treatments including timber fencing.
The approval comes amid ongoing efforts by the council to manage site occupancy levels after enforcement action was taken in early 2025.
In February 2025, Wiltshire Council served an enforcement notice after identifying 77 caravans on the site. The notice required non-Travellers to vacate the property within nine months of April 2, 2025. It also mandated a phased reduction in pitch numbers, first to 25 within 12 months and then to 14 within 18 months.
Following an appeal by the site owner in November 2025, the notice was upheld, though the compliance period for reducing the site to 14 pitches was extended from 18 months to 24 months to account for families and children living on-site.
The planning officer’s recommendation to approve the additional pitches cited findings from council investigations that identified “a potential need for 9-11 pitches for on-site households who meet the planning definition of a gypsy or traveller.”
The report also stated: “As such, it is recognised there is a clear unmet need for land which could be used for gypsy and traveller purposes. The proposed development would provide 10 additional gypsy and traveller pitches on land where there is already permission for such use.”
Initial objections from Semington Parish Council referenced concerns about increased density and previous sewage overflow issues. However, no further comments were submitted following revisions to the plans, according to Wiltshire Times.
Other consultees, including Natural England, the council’s Highways Team, and its Drainage Team, did not object to the proposal. A call-in request by Councillor Andrew Griffin was later withdrawn on February 26.
The planning officer concluded that the development would not harm the amenity of neighboring residents or future occupants, while addressing a documented shortfall in authorized Traveller accommodation within the region.
For professionals in the outdoor hospitality, caravan, and land-use sectors, the case highlights the complexities of balancing enforcement actions with demonstrated accommodation needs. It also underscores the importance of aligning site management, infrastructure capacity, and regulatory compliance when expanding or regularizing caravan and residential park operations.
The decision reflects how local authorities may take a pragmatic approach where unmet demand exists, particularly when applications include revised plans and mitigation measures that address earlier concerns.