Adapting to life with a disability is rarely smooth-sailing, but at the UK Caravan Centre we want to try and help make your home as comfortable and usable as possible.

The UK Caravan Centre provides homes that can be built for people with disabilities, and we always care to ensure our accommodation works for everyone.
Please see the following adaptations that can be in a disabled access home:

Homes come in 2 or 3 bedroom
Wet room with seating in the shower
Some lowered units & worktops in the kitchen
Sliding doors and wide hallways to allow for a wheelchair
Can be with a single or twin unit
Can be built to BS3632 (residential standard)

The beauty of working with the UK Caravan Centre or Landscape Living (luxury lodges) off-site construction system is that once the annexe has been built for you in one or two pieces, it can be quickly installed in a matter of hours once it arrives on-site. This makes annexes like this a great solution for families looking to create accommodation for a disabled or ill relative.

We understand that not all disabilities are the same, so we would urge you to call our dedicated team on 0800 246 1206 so we can give you a bespoke quote and we can tailor the home to your or your loved one’s needs.

Are you caring for a disabled person? Here is a brief guide with some tips for families of people with disabilities.

These general caregiving tips provide families with information on how to stay healthy and positive. Keep in mind that these tips can be used to address many family issues. Information, support, advocacy, empowerment, care, and balance can be the foundation for a healthy family and are appropriate no matter what the challenge.

Be Informed

Gather information about your family member’s condition, and discuss issues with others involved in the care of your family member. Being informed will help you make more knowledgeable health decisions and improve your understanding about any challenges your family might face.
Notice how others care for the person with special needs. Be aware of signs of mental or physical abuse.

Get Support

Family members and friends can provide support in a variety of ways and oftentimes want to help. Determine if there are big or small things they can do to assist you and your family.
Join a local or online support group. A support group can give you the chance to share information and connect with people who are going through similar experiences. A support group may help combat the isolation and fear you may experience as a caregiver.
Don’t limit your involvement to support groups and associations that focus on a particular need or disability. There are also local and national groups that provide services, recreation, and information for people with disabilities.
Friends, family, healthcare providers, support groups, community services, and counsellors are just a few of the people available to help you and your family.

Be an Advocate

Be an advocate for your family member with a disability. Caregivers who are effective advocates may be more successful at getting better service.
Ask questions. For example, if your family member uses a wheelchair and you want to plan a beach vacation, find out if the beaches are accessible via a car, ramp, portable walkway mat, or other equipment.
Inform other caregivers of any special conditions or circumstances. For example, if your family member has a latex allergy, remind dental or medical staff each time you visit them.
Document the medical history of your family member, and keep this information current.
Make sure your employer understands your circumstances and limitations. Discuss your ability to travel or to work weekends or evenings. Arrange for flexible scheduling when needed.
Become familiar with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Equality Act 2010, and other relevant provisions, such as progress on the Carer’s Leave Bill. Know how and when to apply them to your situation. There is a wealth of support & guidance to be found at www.carersuk.org and other similar websites.

Be Empowering

Focus on what you and your family member with a disability can do.
Find appropriate milestones and celebrate them.
If someone asks you questions about the family member, let him or her answer when possible. Doing so may help empower the individual to engage with others.
When appropriate, teach your family member to be as independent and self-assured as possible. Always keep health and safety issues in mind.

Take Care of Yourself

Take care of yourself. Caring for a family member with a disability can wear out even the most robust and resilient caregiver. Stay healthy for yourself and those you care for.
Work hard to maintain your personal interests, hobbies, and friendships. Don’t let caregiving consume your entire life. This is not healthy for you or those you care for. Balance is key.
Allow yourself not to be always perfect. Set reasonable expectations to lower stress and make you a more effective caregiver.
Delegate some caregiving tasks to other reliable people.
Take a break. Short breaks, like an evening walk or relaxing bath, are essential. Long breaks are nurturing. Arrange a retreat with friends or get away with a significant other when appropriate.
Don’t ignore signs of illness: if you get sick, see a healthcare provider. Pay attention to your mental and emotional wellbeing as well. Remember, taking good care of yourself can help the person you care for as well. Exercising and eating healthily also are important.

Keep Balance in the Family

Family members with a disability may require extra care and attention. Take time for all family members, taking into account the needs of each individual. For example, it’s important for parents of a child with a disability to also spend time with each other and with any other children they might have.
Consider respite. “Respite” refers to short-term, temporary care provided to people with disabilities so that their families can take a break from the daily routine of caregiving.

Maintain Proximity and Independence at the Same Time

Should you decide you require additional accommodation but determine that a care home situation will not meet your needs, our annexe accommodation (or sometimes referred to as “granny annexe”) allows you to keep your family member nearby and yet maintain privacy when they need it.

Our annexe homes offer excellent flexibility, security, comfort and sophistication all in one beautiful package, and include central heating, double glazing, fitted kitchens and spacious lounges. Depending upon how you want to use the annexe, we can guide you in the right direction, ensuring that the home that you choose is perfectly tailored to suit your needs, and we can also assist with planning and delivery.
We can work to your budget, allowing you to decide on how many bedrooms you need based on your budget, and we can assist with the rest; interior fittings, furnishings, carpets and curtains. The UK Caravan Centre can advise on them all, guaranteeing that you receive the annexe home that is perfectly suited to your requirements.

There are specific models which are wheelchair friendly. They will have features such as wider access ways throughout the home, wider doors (sometimes sliding), low threshold external doors, low level worktops, portable helper frames, vinyl flooring throughout (with no carpet bars), reinforced hand rails, and full wet shower rooms. If however there are other disabilities with specific requirements we can adapt the home to suit your needs and future proof the home so you will not have to change it going forward.

With our manufacturers’ wealth of knowledge and expertise they have designed homes that will make a huge difference to a person’s ability to maintain a safe and independent lifestyle and enable them to carry out daily activities that may have been affected by various situations such as: frailty, ill health or a severe injury.

If there are any features you would like to include to make life easier for you or a loved one, simply give us a call and we will try to accommodate any request – 0800 246 1206. Alternatively, please fill in your details below:

Please CLICK HERE to see our wide range of homes ….

Please note: This information is intended as a guide only and therefore not legal advice. Each council has different rules/interpretations, so it is wise that you check with your local planning authority for more detailed information.

Do I need planning permission for a static caravan on private land?

If you are thinking of siting a mobile home within the curtilage of your property for the exclusive use of a family member, and you can answer “Yes” to BOTH of these questions, you will not need planning permission:

• Does the annexe (caravan) meet the legal definition of a mobile home in the Caravan Act? (Section 29 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 states that the structure must be physically capable of being moved from one place to another by road and that the twin unit must be no more than 20 metres long, 6.80 metres wide and the living accommodation no more than 3.096 metres high)
• Will the granny annexe remain ancillary to the main house?

In simple terms, planning permission is required for placing a static caravan  or a luxury lodge on land UNLESS it is being used as ancillary accommodation for a house, such as for a dependent relative or holiday accommodation for visiting family members. It is best to check with your local planning authority to determine the specific laws and regulations in your area, as you may be subject to additional restrictions if you live in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), or conservation area, for example.

What is the definition of planning permission?

The official definition of planning permission is defined in Section 55(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. It is the “formal permission that must be obtained from a local authority before development or a change of use of land or buildings”. Therefore, the key points here are the words “development” and “change of use”. Essentially, planning permission is determining whether you are allowed to do any development work, or change the use of the land.

The Caravan Act.

Caravans, including mobile homes up to 65 x 22 ft, can be sited in the direct garden of a house without planning permission if they are used by members of the household as additional living space not as independent accommodation.

A ‘granny annexe’ can be used in a garden without planning but you would need to illustrate how the use of the caravan supports the use of the house and how it will not become a separate or independent dwelling. For example, the people who sleep and wash in the annexe will have access to use the cooking facilities of the main house, or vice versa, or if the annexe relies on the services (gas, water, sewage) of the main dwelling. The structure must also be located in the actual garden (the curtilage of the main dwelling), not in surrounding land (eg. paddock or field).

A static caravan, mobile home, or twin lodge is regarded as an article of moveable personal property known as a ‘chattel’ and there is no public law preventing one being kept in someone’s garden or driveway, but there are laws that regulate the ‘use’ of the land, and any change in use.  So provided the caravan is within the garden of the main home, then no change in use of the home’s land has taken place. However, if the caravan is being used with no connection to the main house, the local planning authority could decide that an unauthorized ‘material change of use’ has occurred, for which planning permission will be required.

The “curtilage” of the land is classed as your drive and garden in this case. It does to extend to other land (see Location Test below).

Getting a bit confused ? Why not get in touch by the form below to go through your options

The definition of a caravan when considering an annexe. 

The definition of a caravan in law is defined by the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, Section 29. It states as follows;

“Caravan” means any structure designed or adapted for human habitation which is capable of being moved from one place to another (whether by being towed, or by being transported on a motor vehicle or trailer) and any motor vehicle so designed or adapted, but does not include (a) any railway rolling stock which is for the time being on rails forming part of a railway system, or (b) any tent.

Case law has given further understanding of the definition of a ‘caravan’. Case laws are new interpretations of law that are made in court and can therefore be cited as precedents. To be deemed a ‘caravan’ a habitable structure must conform to a size and mobility test. This is an evaluation of how the caravan could be moved and a measurement of its physical size. A further ‘construction’ test applies to twin-unit mobile home type caravans.

Size test
The maximum size of a caravan is limited to 20m x 6.8m or 65ft x 22ft and less than 3.05m internal height in the Caravan Sites Act.

Structure/Mobility Test
Caravan means any structure designed or adapted for human habitation which is capable of being moved from one place to another.

Location Test
If the location of the caravan is considered not to be within the residential curtilage of the dwelling then it will require planning permission.

The definition of a ‘curtilage’ is usually a garden, but ‘can’ include parking areas/driveways, vegetable plots, children’s play areas, and stables (where the horses are kept for pleasure rather than agricultural use).

Use Test
If the use of a caravan is not considered to be a part of or incidental to the use of the house and has become a separate dwelling, providing all the normal facilities for day-to-day living, then it could be considered a material change of use or a separate residential unit. Thus the caravan would require permission.

Applying for planning permission has a high chance of refusal, and there are likely to be restrictions and/or conditions attached as to what is permitted if approval is granted, eg. the style must be ‘in keeping’ with the area or the primary dwelling.

Planning permission for a static caravan on agricultural land.

If you wanted to put a static caravan as staff accommodation on to agricultural land, you would need planning permission. That is the simple answer.

If it is for a short period of time, then you can get away without planning permission. There are some exemptions that you need to pay attention to. You can place the caravan on the land as long as it is incidental to the use of the land.

It needs to be pointed out that it is not the actual caravan that changes the use of the land, rather what the caravan is used for. If it is used to store supplies used for the land, there should be no issues. Living in it is a different story.

You are entitled to stay in the caravan for 28 days without issue. You are also allowed to stay in it when it is related to the land. A good example is during lambing season, you may be required to be nearby at all times during that period. Outside of good reasons like this, there may well be issues.  This also applies to seasonal forestry workers and farm workers. You are entitled to house them on site while they work there. You are also allowed to site a caravan under the Health and Safety legislation. It can be set up as a ‘welfare unit’ to provide toilet facilities, water and tea breaks, and somewhere to shelter out of the rain and cold.

A word of warning though, do not be tempted to lay down patios or decking, as it gives the impression of permanence and your local council will see it that way. The impression you always want to give is one of a temporary nature.

Planning permission for a static caravan during a self-build project or renovation.

The simple answer is that it depends on your local council. In principle, you are allowed to place a static caravan on land where a build is taking place “self build” . The caravan needs to be related to the build i.e. you are living there while the building work takes shape. You cannot rent it out separately by taking advantage of this exception.

Councils do take differing positions on this so when you are getting planning permission for the main build, it is always best to include the mobile home on the application. There can be no issues later in that case as it was all agreed. Take note, you are still expected to pay council tax even though you are living in a caravan prior to the main build being completed. You may not be living in the house but you are still living on the land.

If you want to be certain that the existing use of a building is lawful for planning purposes or that your proposal does not require planning permission, you can apply to your local planning authority for a ‘Lawful Development Certificate’ (LDC) or Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development (CLEUD).  It is not compulsory but many customers prefer to have one for their own peace of mind.

Please contact one of our team if you require any further guidance, or a copy of our Planning Information Pack with example letters, location plans etc. Simply call us on 08002461206 or fill in your details below:

INTERESTED IN LUXURY LODGES : SEE OUR SISTER COMPANY LANDSCAPE LIVING ……………

Meet Gareth, who looks after all the parks we supply to and their customers  ….  

Gareth, how did you find yourself in the Caravan Industry?

Many friends of mine had been working in the industry for a good few years and kept telling me to move over and try it, and in 2019 I finally decided to give it a go, went and worked on a park and have never looked back.

What do you do for the UK Caravan Centre?

I am the trade manager, which means I look after all of the trade accounts here at the UKCC. This involves helping get the right holiday homes for parks, whether this be new or used, arranging transport for the homes to be delivered if required, and assisting the parks with the PDI checks of the homes and any aftersales that occur.

How have you found the last couple of year in the wake of Covid?

The last few years have been difficult for all. The demand has been higher than it ever has, which did put a lot of stress on the manufacturers, who had a really difficult time of supplying the homes as quickly as parks required them. With the cost of everything going up, this has also driven the prices of holiday homes up which has also proved difficult in some circumstances; however, things are now much more improved, with lead times on homes coming back down to pre-covid times.

What do you like to do for fun?

Holidays, anywhere abroad and as much as possible! Also, I like to get out and play golf at least once a week (once the weather warms up, definitely not a winter golfer) and I love watching football, at any opportunity, especially my team Liverpool (although this year hasn’t been so fun to watch)

What do you see happening in the next few years for the Holiday Park industry?

I believe it will remain a very busy and popular option for many people in the UK. Of course, people will start to go abroad again now that it is an option, although I do believe that during covid, the holiday park industry gained a wider audience, with many people who hadn’t been going on UK holidays giving it a go and enjoying it very much and therefore I believe the holiday park industry will continue to prosper.

To talk to Gareth about any of your Park, or Holiday Home needs get in touch by phone or email by the below

Email: Gareth@ukcaravancentre.co.uk

Mobile: 07543138856
Or fill in your details below:

The Access Considerations When Buying a Static Caravan

No matter whether you need a static caravan for annexe accommodation, a holiday home, staff accommodation, or any other use, there are some important practicalities to be considered before you take the plunge & purchase.  Some of these considerations are covered in our FAQs, and this article will focus specifically on access issues.

When delivering a static caravan, access issues can refer to any obstacles that may prevent the caravan from being easily delivered to its intended location. Here are some common access issues that may arise when delivering a static caravan:

1. Narrow access points: If the access point leading to the intended location is narrow, it may be difficult for the delivery vehicle to navigate through. This can be a particular issue if there are sharp turns or obstacles such as trees, fences, parked cars or buildings in the way.
2. Low bridges or overhangs: If there are low bridges or overhangs on the route to the intended location (such as trees, electric wires etc.), the caravan may be too tall to pass through safely. This can be a particular issue if the caravan is being transported on a flatbed or low loader trailer.
3. Steep gradients: If the route to the intended location involves steep gradients or hills, this can be challenging for the delivery vehicle to negotiate, particularly when considering how heavy the load is.
4. Limited turning space: If there is limited space to turn the delivery vehicle and caravan around once it arrives at the intended location, this can make delivery difficult or even impossible.
5. Ground conditions: If the ground leading to the intended location is soft or unstable, this can make it prohibitive for the delivery lorry and caravan to pass through safely. This can be particularly challenging if the weather has been wet or if the ground is uneven.

What is a Site Survey and How Can One Help?

To understand access issues when delivering a static caravan, it is important to thoroughly assess the route to the intended location and identify any potential hazards that may need to be overcome before a purchase is made. This can involve carrying out a site survey to determine the suitability of the access route and identify any necessary modifications or adaptations that may need to be made, and it is a task that our UK Caravan Centre team are able to assist with.

We always recommend consulting with an experienced caravan delivery & siting specialist who can provide guidance prior to purchase, and support throughout the delivery process.  This will allow you to make an informed decision about what size caravan can be safely delivered to your location, and can fit into the intended plot.

A site surveyor will carry out the process of collecting and analysing information about the route to, and the specific location or site. This will allow for informed decisions to be made about the size, delivery, and installation of a mobile home at that location.

A site survey typically involves a physical visit to the site by an expert who will examine and document various aspects of the route and the site. This can include gathering information about the site’s topography, soil composition, environmental conditions, driving restrictions, tolls, escort requirements, and other factors that could impact the choice of static caravan being considered and the delivery thereof.

Overall, a site survey is an important step in the planning process for the purchase of any mobile home. It allows for the identification of potential challenges and helps to ensure that the decision-making is fully informed, and the purchase and delivery can be executed in a way that is safe, achievable and cost-effective.  Our team at The UK Caravan Centre can make all the necessary arrangements to ensure that a site survey can be carried out in a timely fashion, thus allowing peace-of-mind to order the best possible caravan, and we always have a superb range of homes available to choose from.

Please call us on 0800 246 1206 to discuss further, or fill in your details below: