Smart or stupid?

[askingforafriend]

I'm hoping someone with some planning knowledge might be able to help me out here because I'm struggling to find any precedent for what I've done and what I plan to do with it.

2015 I bought a green field. Over the course of the next 12 months we got planning and developed the site for use as an equestrian facility.

2020, COVID comes in and I call the local authority, tell them that we're worried with the lockdowns that we might get stopped from going to care for the horses so we're going to live up there in the horsebox until the lockdowns were over. Lady creates an address in the system and says, after about 6 months you'll get a council tax bill unless you call to cancel the address"

6 months later, we're paying council tax and have been ever since. We have a proper registered postal address, bin collections, water supply, internet, the works and we live in a twin unit static caravan on the land.

I just checked and that was all done in March 2020 so would we now fall under the 4 year rule where I can apply for a certificate of lawfulness for the caravan to be occupied permanently as a dwelling?

 

[^woody^]

Which parts of the council did you deal with?

What does the planning history for the site say?

In any case, living in a caravan is not creating a "dwelling", nor is it a precedent for creating a permanent residence - even if there is an address.

But, you would be wise to pay for a proper legal opinion from a suitable planning advisor or planning lawyer, before contacting the planning authority.