The owners of the residential caravan park at Gate Farm Road have appealed against a decision refusing them permission to take the next step towards placing another 13 static caravans on the site.

Babergh turned down an application by Shotley Caravan request for a Lawful Development Certificate to station 26 residential static caravans on the land overlooking the river Orwell.

This would double the number of residential caravans currently on the site and Babergh planning officers refused the certificate on the grounds that the proposal would result in a material change to the character and nature of the use of the land. As existing, the site has a very open and spacious feel. This character would change with the introduction of 100% more units on the site.

The caravans would have to be sited outside of the flood zone to ensure residents' safety, which would lead to units being placed closer together on the site exacerbating the impact of intensification within the site. This intensification is such that the environmental impact of the proposal upon the visual amenities of the surrounding land from both on-site and off-site effects would change the character of the site and would have a harmful impact on the protected landscape.

But the caravan site owner Anthony Barney of Countrywide Park Homes argue that the character and current use of the site as a caravan site would not change through the proposal and that off-site impacts will not be significant as to amount to a material change of use.

Comments and representations can be made to the planning inspector by May 25 by going to the appeal website here... and using appeal reference: APP/D3505/X/21/327144