Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority denied an application from a local county councilor seeking to regularize a long-running, seasonal campsite in Roch, Wales.
The application, submitted by Nick Neumann through Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, requested a certificate of lawfulness to recognize Rainbolts Hill Farm as having operated as a camping and touring site for a continuous 10-year minimum period.
According to the application, the site has operated between April and October since 1972, accommodating up to 50 daily pitches, according to an article by Nation CYMRU.
A certificate of lawfulness permits property owners to maintain a development if they provide evidence of prolonged, continuous usage.
The national park’s officer report recommended refusal, noting that the site lacked continuous operational evidence necessary to demonstrate a 10-year breach of planning control against which the local planning authority could have taken enforcement action.
The report stated that while there appeared to be no abandonment of use, the primary issue involved “the extent to which there has been a 10-year period within which a continuous and uninterrupted breach has taken place at the site”.
The officer report also observed that although the application contained detailed information, it lacked clarity in certain areas, concluding that a satisfactory case was not established.
Following the decision, Neumann stated that he and his wife were proactively attempting to “resolve and regularise an issue we inherited when we bought the farm” in 2019.
Neumann noted that previous owners evidenced a history of over 50 years accommodating campers without enforcement action.
He additionally pointed out that the park authority previously approved the construction of a large facilities building in 2005 specifically for the campsite.
Following meetings with park authority officers, Neumann confirmed plans to resubmit a revised application containing “further robust evidence in due course”.
This case underscores the operational risks of acquiring inherited businesses with undocumented or unresolved planning permissions.
Understanding local zoning requirements and securing proper operational certification is critical for campground owners looking to maintain continuity, avoid regulatory enforcement, and protect long-term business investments.
