A planning application could allow The Poplars Caravan Park in East Runton, Norfolk, to operate for most of the year if approved by North Norfolk District Council.
The park has applied to extend its permitted operating season so that the entire holding, comprising The Poplars and the adjacent Woodlands site, can be used year-round. The proposal would not apply to the pitch closest to residential neighbors, which would remain closed for approximately four months during the winter under a separate planning permission.
The Poplars has operated as a caravan site for many years, according to Eastern Daily Press. Its permanent planning permission, granted in 1991, currently includes a winter closure period, although the site is permitted to open for 20 days over Christmas and New Year.
The application follows a recent change in ownership. The new applicant is seeking to operate almost the entire park throughout the year, with planning documents stating that a longer operating season could assist with management and marketing, improve the site’s financial viability, and support other businesses in the surrounding area.
The documents also argue that year-round operation could increase visitor numbers and associated spending in the local economy, support employment, and place the park on a more comparable footing with other accommodation businesses that can operate throughout the year.
The proposal would bring The Poplars closer to the operating model already permitted at Woodlands, the adjacent park under the same ownership, which has permission for year-round occupation.
However, the application has raised concerns locally. The parish council has objected, citing concerns that extending the operating period could change the nature of the park and potentially establish a precedent for other caravan sites seeking similar permissions.
“There is genuine concern that a 12-month licence will result in the caravan park becoming a residential park. We would seek assurance that this is not the intent,” it said.
The parish council also raised concerns about potential pressure on village facilities and services, the wider provision of new homes in East and West Runton, and possible implications for council services. It said it would maintain its objection until those issues were addressed.
One neighbor, who has not objected to the proposal, raised a separate question about the tax treatment of caravans that could be occupied throughout the year.
“It doesn’t matter to me if it seasonal or not and generally supportive, but if owners can use their caravans all year round then why they are not classed as second homes and subject to second home council tax?”
The issue highlights a consideration for caravan park operators seeking longer operating seasons: planning permission to remain open throughout the year does not necessarily determine whether individual units are treated as permanent residences or second homes for taxation and regulatory purposes. Operators considering similar applications may therefore need to distinguish between extended holiday use and residential occupation and understand how planning, licensing, council tax, and other local requirements interact.
The application is now subject to consideration by North Norfolk District Council. The outcome will determine whether The Poplars can extend its current seasonal operating model, while the concerns raised by the parish council will form part of the planning considerations.
Visit North Norfolk’s district directory lists around 65 holiday and caravan parks, placing the application within a broader local accommodation market in which changes to operating seasons could have implications for competition, visitor spending, and demand for local services.
