Mobile home

[edit] Caravans and mobile homes

A mobile home, is most commonly often called a static caravan in British English (or sometimes a lodge), referred to as a trailer home in the US, it is a prefabricated all in one living unit, sitting on a metal chassis, connected to axles and wheels, with a tow point but no engine. A motor home on the other hand refers to the same type of living unit built on a vehicle with its own engine, so can be driven from place to place without the need to be towed by another vehicle. A touring caravan (also sometimes just called a caravan) is usually a smaller unit that is used for short stay trips and vacations. Other types of mobile homes historically might be referred to as gypsy (traveller) caravans or more correctly Romani wagons or Vardo.

Ironically although referred to as a mobile home, and with the potential to be towed by car to a new location, many in reality are located on single sites over longer periods (hence the term static caravan in English). Essentially the variety of terms relates to the dimensions of the units, thus how easy or likely it is for them to be transported on roads and the nature of their use as a dwelling. This is often most significant regarding where, when and for how long they are parked in a particular location and for what reason.

[edit] Touring caravans

A caravan in UK English (without the preceding static) or often more specifically referred to as a touring caravan, normally describes to a small living unit between as little as 3 and up to 7 metres in length, excluding the towing mechanism and at standard road widths. These are designed to be used for short holiday periods, towed by car from place to place, it is illegal for persons to be inside the caravan when it is being towed.

[edit] Short period stays

Parking touring caravans for short periods of time or a few nights is usually acceptable (though is a grey area) including parking on roads, although from a legal point of view any obstruction, or dangerous parking will be judged as illegal. The vehicle should be lit at night with rear lights visible for oncoming traffic.

[edit] Up to 28 days stays

For longer periods of time unless parked in a licenced and permitted caravan park, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 cover period up to days. In Schedule 2, Part 4 is states that permitted development Class B includes "The use of any land for any purpose for not more than 28 days in total in any calendar year… and the provision on the land of any moveable structure for the purposes of the permitted use." This use will however require permission from the land owner.

[edit] Up to 60 days stays

On 5th July, English parliament updated the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2023 to create new allowances for campsites in England (the new Class BC amendment). These include extending the duration that is it permitted to camp from 28 days to up to 60 days per calendar year. Though guidance should be sought on the finer detail as to its application for camping and for caravaning, as well as requirements for licences.

[edit] Storage

These types of caravans are usually stored at a persons home, so planning permission is usually not needed to store a caravan in a garden or on a driveway, but maybe required if stored anywhere other than these places. Some urban areas or housing developments do not allow caravans to be parked, so it is good to check with the provider or local council first, especially if it may be considered to be causing an obstruction. If such a caravan is being used as a completely self-sufficient home, on site rather than as an extension of a home for holiday purposes, then planning permission is most likely to be required.

[edit] Static caravans

A static caravan or mobile home can have maximum dimensions of 20m long, 6.8m wide and 3.05m tall (this dimension in width includes the allowance for twin adjoined units). These can be towed on UK roads with specific permission but are mainly towed to a single location to remain, they however can be removed if ever required. These fall under the UK Caravan Sites Act 1968 which focused on static temporary dwellings rather than touring types of caravans, especially concerning permanent sites.

[edit] Static caravan sites

The Caravan Sites Act itself describes its purpose as "An Act to restrict the eviction from caravan sites of occupiers of caravans and make other provision for the benefit of such occupiers; to secure the establishment of such sites by local authorities for the use of gipsies and other persons of nomadic habit, and control in certain areas the unauthorised occupation of land by such persons; to amend the definition of “caravan” in Part I of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid."

In 2019 the Sottish Statutory Instrument Order in turn amends the definition of caravan in section 13(2) of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 (“the 1968 Act”) to allow for twin-unit structures. "Section 13 (twin-unit caravans) of the 1968 Act excepts from the meaning of “caravan” in Part 1 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 twin-unit structures designed or adapted for human habitation which are composed of not more than two sections separately constructed and designed to be assembled on site by bolts, clamps or other devices, which when assembled are physically capable of being moved by road from one place to another and whose dimensions exceed specified dimensions."

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Camp.
• Caravan.
• Caravan site.
• Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
• Controls on traveller development.
• Green belt.
• Gypsies and travellers and travelling showpeople.
• National Planning Policy Framework.
• Planning permission.
• Review of housing needs for caravans and houseboats.
• Revised planning policy for traveller sites.
• Tent.

[edit] External Links

Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.

Caravan Sites Act 1968.

The Caravan Sites Act 1968 (Amendment of Definition of Caravan) (Scotland) Order 2019

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2023.