Man allowed to remain in caravan despite living there without permission for 30 years

A man has secured the legal right to remain in his caravan home in Pembrokeshire after 30 years of unofficial residence.

Clive Hetherington has occupied the caravan at Warreston Lodge in Cosheston since 1996, despite never receiving formal recognition of the dwelling from local planning authorities.

Pembrokeshire County Council has now granted him approval to stay, with the passage of time working in his favour.

The council issued a certificate of lawfulness following an application that demonstrated his extended period of continuous occupation at the site.

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The area forms part of a 40-acre plot in the Welsh countryside.

Wendy Campbell, who resides at the neighbouring Warreston Farm, acquired the land in 2003 and has permitted Mr Hetherington to continue his tenancy ever since.

The caravan's sole occupant is not related to Ms Campbell and had been living there before she took ownership of the property.

Through her planning agent, Preseli Planning Ltd, Ms Campbell submitted an application seeking formal permission to retain the 1996 caravan as Mr Hetherington's residence.

A certificate of lawfulness allows developments to be legitimised when applicants can prove occupation over a sufficient timeframe.

The supporting statement emphasised that the caravan "has been openly used, and no attempt has been made to conceal the development at any time, since its occupation as a residential unit in 1996."

The application presented substantial documentation to verify Mr Hetherington's unbroken residency at the site.

Electricity bills addressed to him at "the caravan" confirmed a mains connection, while a dedicated Royal Mail postal address established the dwelling as a recognised residential unit.

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Council records showed Mr Hetherington had been registered as a resident at Warreston Lodge since 1 April 1996.

Rental documentation demonstrated consistent occupancy and payments stretching from August 2003 through to March 2026.

Aerial imagery dating back to 1996 further corroborated the presence of the caravan and associated structures throughout the entire period claimed.

The submission noted that the affidavits accompanying the application specifically referred to living in the caravan, which had no functional connection to the main farmhouse.

A council officer's report recommended approval.

It said: "Whilst the rent book evidence does not extend to the full period claimed, it nonetheless demonstrates occupation over a period significantly exceeding 10 years."

The report concluded that "the pattern and consistency of the entries, together with site observations, support the conclusion that the use has not been abandoned or interrupted."

Under planning law, the relevant immunity period is 10 years, a threshold that Mr Hetherington's continuous residential use comfortably exceeded.

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