Thurrock Council has refused an application to expand the number of static caravans at Walton Hall Farm, a visitor centre and caravan park in Linford. The decision was confirmed this week following a review of the proposal by planning officers.
The application sought a certificate of lawfulness to allow 36 mobile homes to be sited at the facility on Waltons Hall Road.
Walton Hall Farm, located on green belt land north of East Tilbury, currently operates as a mixed-use site with a caravan park, indoor play area, café, retail units, and craft spaces.
The caravan area, including an open paddock and a strip of land along the northwest boundary, is already covered by existing certificates of lawfulness, permitting 31 units.
Recent work has been underway to install permanent bases for new static caravans on the approved pitches, according to a report by Your Thurrock.
However, the latest proposal would have increased capacity by an additional five units, from 31 to 36. Planning officers rejected the request, raising concerns that the expansion could shift the overall balance of the site’s operations.
In their report, council officers stated: “Incremental increases are capable of bringing about a definable change of character. One such definable change of incremental increase in the number of caravans could tip the balance of the caravan use to become the primary or dominant use.”
The report further noted that if the caravan use became dominant, “the rest of the site could fall to be considered as ancillary, thereby permitting further caravans to be sited on such areas, which could squeeze the viability of the other mixed uses, including visitor attractions, resulting in a further definable change in the character and nature of the site.”
For operators in the outdoor hospitality sector, the decision highlights the planning challenges associated with balancing diversification and expansion on mixed-use sites.
While additional pitches can increase revenue potential, local authorities may weigh such proposals against broader planning principles, including land designation and maintaining the intended use of facilities.
Business owners in the sector may see this as a reminder of the importance of demonstrating how expansions complement, rather than overshadow, existing visitor amenities.