Written question WQ84934
- Asked by
- Samuel KurtzConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 13 days
Question
Will the Minister provide an update on the number of days which land can be used for campsites without planning permission, following the temporary changes introduced to the law during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
Class B of Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) provides for the temporary use of land (excluding buildings) for 28 days in a calendar year, subject to limitations and conditions. This is reduced to 14 days for specified uses.
In April 2021, the number of days permitted for temporary uses was temporally extended to 56 days to support economic recovery in the hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. Given the increase in days was not subject to public consultation, this could only be a temporary arrangement. The permitted number of days for temporary uses returned to 28 days on 4 January 2022.
A consultation on amendments to the GPDO closed on 15 February. This consultation included a call for evidence on the benefits and impacts of the additional days used by landowners for temporary uses, including pop-up campsites. Responses to the consultation are being considered and a government response will be issued later this year.