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Jul 16, 2023

Lowestoft: Tingdene told to tear down holiday park fittings

The owner of a holiday park has been told to remove an unauthorised extension

The owner of a holiday park has been told to remove an unauthorised extension next to its existing site in Lowestoft.

A High Court injunction has been issued against Tingdene (North Denes) Ltd, ordering it to remove caravan bases, waste soil piles, caravan bases, roadway, and a pumping station with settlement tank and pipe works at North Denes.

The removal must take place within 90 days with Tingdene also told it must restore the land to its original state.

Tingdene had faced an enforcement notice from East Suffolk Council after beginning to develop 32 caravans on council-owned land in 2019.

The council had ordered Tingdene to restore the land to its previous state and remove the associated development works.

Tingdene appealed that decision, but it was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate in May 2021.

The next stage of the controversy has now seen a High Court injunction being made following a submission by East Suffolk Council.

East Suffolk Council's image of the site Tingdene hoped to develop on (Image: East Suffolk Council)

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High Court judge Mrs Justice Steyn granted an injunction ordering that within 90 days Tingdene must permanently remove waste soil piles, caravan bases, roadway, and a pumping station with settlement tank and pipe works, and permanently restore the site to its previous condition.

Kay Yule, East Suffolk Council cabinet member for planning and coastal management, said: "We are pleased with the decision of the High Court to grant this injunction, which demonstrates the consequences of failing to follow legal planning processes and comply with enforcement notices."

The Tingdene North Denes Caravan Park at Lowestoft (Image: Denise Bradley)

READ MORE: Lowestoft caravan park told to remove extension by planning inspector

In 1975, a planning application was submitted and approved by the then Waveney District Council for a camping site and roadworks on the land, and for a seasonal tenting and touring caravan site with up to 500 pitches in 1984.

However, the Planning Inspectorate found it had not been demonstrated that the works comprised part of either the 1975 or 1984 permission and that the nature of the 1984 permission was such that the works could only have been lawfully carried out by the local authority.

Tingdene had argued planning permission should be granted for the new 32 caravan site, highlighting the Waveney Local Plan's emphasis on supporting the tourism industry.

Tingdene's North Denes Caravan Park is the country's most Easterly caravan park (Image: Denise Bradley)