New Forest National Park Authority launches bid to halt controversial mobile home development Avon Dene between Bransgore and Ringwood

A PLANNING battle is set to start over enforcement action launched by the national park authority to stop development at a controversial mobile home park near Bransgore.

The 2.6-hectare site called Vernon Dene, at North Ripley, benefits from a certificate of lawful use granted to former owner Jonathan Cox by the NPA in 2008, placing no restriction on the number of mobile homes.

At the time the site accommodated “a few modest sized touring caravans”.

But it was subsequently acquired by Park One Developments for £2.5m in 2018 when the firm unveiled it plans to site over 80 residential mobile homes.

The NPA acknowledged in 2018 that a legal loophole made it “powerless” to stop the site becoming a permanent development.

But it has launched enforcement action to remove infrastructure associated with the siting of 92 permanent caravans – which now faces challenge in a public inquiry.

The NPA alleged that current owner Ocean One Hundred Ltd has carried out a series of engineering works without planning permission.

These comprise hard surfaces for caravan bases, internal roads, parking areas, driveways and walls and brick pillars.

It is also alleged that utility cabinets and water and foul drainage systems have been installed.

The NPA argued that because the site lies with the national park and within the catchment area of the River Avon Special Conservation Area, the work is likely to have a significant impact on the protected habitats and therefore need a formal environmental impact assessment.

It said this means that work cannot be undertaken under permitted development rights and therefore planning permission is necessary.

The enforcement notice stated: “The site works and associated use represent an inappropriate and urbanising form of development in a protected landscape that would be at odds with the surrounding open countryside and out of character with the rural nature of this part of the national park.”

Ocean One Hundred Ltd has launched an appeal against the NPA’s enforcement action, arguing that the development is necessary to ensure satisfactory living conditions for the residents of the sites, and it does not harm the European sites.

The company has requested a four-day public inquiry in which it will call six witnesses. Comments should be sent to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol by 21st February.