Caravan and trailer storage at Hargate Hill Equestrian Centre, Glossop

What was proposed

The application sought to certify land used for storing caravans, motorhomes and horse trailers, with associated hardstanding and engineering works.

“Change of use of land for storage of caravans, motor homes and horse trailers, and associated operational development comprising the engineering operations and laying of hardstanding to form the yard area.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site is a 0.2-hectare hardstanding parcel within the equestrian centre, accessed from Glossop Road and containing multiple caravans.

“This application relates to a rectangular parcel of land measuring approximately 0.2ha situated within the Hargate Hill Equestrian Centre, a large complex made up of buildings, riding facilities and hard standing which together makes up the planning unit.”

“The site is accessed off Glossop Road, a short distance to the north of Charlesworth via a private driveway and sits to the west of the main car park and the cluster of buildings associated with the Equestrian Centre.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

An enforcement notice covered the wider centre in 2017, but no previous planning history specifically concerned this parcel.

“An Enforcement Notice was served under refence HPE/2017/00002 which covered the entirety of the Hargate Hill Equestrian Centre complex on 22 nd September 2017. This notice related to the unauthorised change of use of land comprising:”

“Whilst the wider Hargate Hill Equestrian Centre has planning history which includes two other current applications (HPK/2025/0339 and HPK/2025/0340) this parcel of land has not been subject to any previous planning history.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the hardstanding and storage use immune from enforcement action, based on imagery, declarations and the balance of probabilities.

“It is clear from the images above that the hardstanding has been in place for over 4 years. Whilst operational development is immune from enforcement action if it was substantially complete prior to April 2024 and has been in situ for 4 years, this does not extend to the use of the land. Any unauthorised use of land has to have been in continuous use for 10 years to be immune from enforcement action.”

“Based on all available evidence, including historic satellite imagery and sworn statutory declarations from a number of people who have knowledge of the site, it is considered as a matter of judgement that on the balance of probability, the site has been used for the storage of caravans from 2009 onwards for a continuous 10 year period.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from the applicant’s agent.

The committee’s decision

The committee granted the certificate as set out in the report and allowed limited delegated changes to its wording.

“That a Certificate of Lawful Development be granted as set out in the report; and…”

“That in the event of any changes being needed to the wording of the Committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions/informatives/planning obligations or reasons for approval/refusal) prior to the decision being issued, the Head of Development Services be delegated authority to do so in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, provided that the changes do not exceed the substantive nature of the Committee’s decision.”

Minutes