Hastings Borough Council has rejected an application that sought to convert Spindlewood Country Park in Rock Lane, Ore, Hastings, from a holiday park to a residential caravan site.
The decision underscores the clear legal distinction between holiday-use and residential-use caravan operations—a key consideration for park operators and developers navigating planning frameworks across the United Kingdom.
The site, which has operated as a recognized caravan park since 1984, was transferred to its current operators, Hastings Holiday Parks Ltd, in August 2024.
The company sought a Lawful Development Certificate that would have permitted residents to use the static caravans as their main homes.
The planning application argued: “The definition of a ‘caravan’ or ‘caravan site’ does not distinguish the occupation of caravans for holiday or leisure purposes and as a person’s sole or main place of residence.”
The applicants maintained that the site could already be used for residential purposes without breaching any existing conditions, but sought formal recognition to ensure compliance with local planning rules.
According to the submission, allowing full-time occupancy would not constitute a change of use because occupation as a primary residence, second home, or holiday home would fall within the same use category.
However, the proposal faced multiple objections. Guestling Parish Council opposed the move, stating: “It is not desirable that caravans are used as permanent residence. Neither the site nor the individual chalets, tents, or caravan pitches are suitable for permanent occupation.”
According to The Argus, Rother District Council, a neighboring authority, also objected to the application.
Planning officers for Hastings Borough Council reviewed the site’s history and determined that its approved use was clearly for holiday purposes.
They wrote: “While the applicant argues that no condition explicitly restricts occupation to holidays, and that the original permission did not preclude residential use, this argument is not supported when the planning history and documentation are read as a whole.”
The officers further noted that references to “holiday” throughout the park’s development record made the intended use “unambiguous.”
In their final report, council officers concluded that “the proposed use of static caravans as main residences would represent a material change of use from the existing lawful use.”
The ruling confirms that Spindlewood Country Park remains classified as a holiday caravan park and cannot be used for permanent residential occupation.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the case highlights the importance of clarity in planning permissions and the risks of assuming that long-term or full-time occupation can occur under holiday-use designations.
As local councils continue to monitor the distinction between tourism and residential uses, maintaining compliance remains essential for preserving operational legitimacy and long-term site value.