The owners of controversial Shotley Caravan Park have moved to add 26 new homes to their Gate Farm site.

Countrywide Park Homes have applied to Babergh District Council for a Lawful Development Certificate for a proposed use of land to station 26 static caravans for permanent residential occupation.

Many nearby residents were left angry and frustrated last year when the park owners won their legal battle to make the 13 caravans they had permission for, to be made permanent after a planning inspector had previously ruled only three could be used as residential homes and the other 10 had seasonal use only.

However, a new inspector ruled changing the status to all permanent would not be a material change of use and the old caravans were removed and larger units installed.

Five of the 13 new park homes are still on the market, with a price of £220,000 being asked for the two bedroom static caravans.

An application for a certificate of lawful use is different to a planning application and sets out a principle for development, but would still need a new permission to build the homes.

The site is within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and overlooks Shotley marshes and the river Orwell.

The application number can be found on the Babergh Planning site (use the red button below) and insert application number DC/20/00874.