StowSpace Caravan Storage

Securing a lawful future for an established rural business through robust planning evidence

Client

StowSpace Ltd

Location

Lattiford, Somerset

RIBA Work Stages

Services

Town Planning

Overview

StowSpace is an established rural business providing secure storage for caravans, motorhomes, boats and vehicles. Following planning investigations and previous planning proceedings, the lawful status of the operation came under increased scrutiny, creating uncertainty over the future of the business.

The client required a robust planning strategy to establish whether the use could be formally recognised as lawful and protected from further enforcement action.

Planning challenges

Proving lawful use where planning history, enforcement concerns and a dismissed appeal had created significant uncertainty.

The site had previously been the subject of a dismissed planning appeal relating to a retrospective planning application for the storage use. The appeal was dismissed on planning policy grounds relating to landscape, heritage and environmental considerations.

At the same time, enforcement concerns remained regarding whether the use benefited from lawful planning status. The client faced the risk of significant disruption to an established business unless clear evidence could be provided demonstrating the site’s operational history.

The challenge was not to revisit the planning merits of the development, but to prove that the use had existed continuously for the period required under planning legislation.

Our approach

Building a robust, evidence-led case to demonstrate lawful use and secure certainty for the client.

BoonBrown’s Town Planning team prepared a comprehensive Lawful Development Certificate application supported by extensive factual evidence.

The submission included:

Statutory declarations from individuals with direct knowledge of the site
Historical construction and operational records
Supporting invoices and receipts
A detailed Planning Statement setting out the legal case
Evidence demonstrating continuous use over a period exceeding ten years

Despite objections from enforcement officers and concerns raised by the Parish Council, the team carefully assembled and presented a clear evidential case focused on the legal tests required for a Lawful Development Certificate.

Outcome

Securing formal recognition of a lawful use and safeguarding the future of an established rural business.

The Local Planning Authority granted the Lawful Development Certificate, formally confirming the lawful status of the storage operation.

The decision secured the long-term future of the business, removed uncertainty surrounding enforcement action and provided the client with confidence to continue operating an established rural enterprise.

This project demonstrates the value of specialist planning expertise in navigating complex planning histories, applying planning law correctly, and achieving certainty where the future of a business is at stake.