[arborexplora]

  Hello all, like many of you I seem to have I stumbled on this forum during many internet searches.
My name is Richard and I am an arboricultural consultant in the Durham Dales and will shortly have the opportunity to be part of a smallholding (I already have an allotment and have kept chucks in the garden). My parents both now retired are in the process of purchasing a farmhouse with outbuildings and 11.5 acres, near Hamsterley, County Durham. The idea is to start small, a few chickens and ducks and later build up to pigs, cattle, sheep etc. We also intend to plant up about 1.5 hectares of native woodland (with some funding assistance from FC grants). I would be grateful to you all if I could pick your collective brains on occasion (starting now).

I have looked at the archives and know this topic has come up before, but I am unsure of the circumstances, so here goes:

My parents currently have a static caravan on a site in Teesdale that they generally use at weekends, the fees are paid up for this year (until Nov), however as they will now be living in the countryside there are unlikely to need the retreat at weekends and with site fees around £1200 a year are looking to move the caravan off the site. They are considering putting the static on the land next to the existing outbuildings, the caravan will not be used as a residential dwelling apart from occasions when relatives stay. Can they do this without planning permission or have I opened a can of worms? They do not intent to live in the caravan.

Many thanks, Richard

[pottsie]

Hi Richard,

I'm just down the road at Windmill, dont know about the caravan but good luck with the new project. I'm a couple of years in with my smallholding but learning the hard way as i havn't had animals before and havn't grown anything since at home as a kid. If i can help with anything local give me a pm, i have a few contacts that may also be of help.

Rob. 

[faith0504]

hi and welcome from moray 

[arborexplora]

Hi Rob, thanks for the reply, I will be taking you up on the offer. Looking at your location map you really are just along the road. My parents are in the process of buying Hawthorn House at High Wham. Looks like we will be neighbours. Cheers Richard

Hello to you too Moray.

[Rosemary]

Hello and welcome from Carnoustie 

[Micko]

Hi Richard,

We're in Prudhoe (Humbles Wood Farm) so not a million miles away from you. We've got a static on our land (no buildings / house) and are living in it temporarily at the moment. We've consulted with the planners about it and they're fine. We used the Field to Farm route to do this and are allowed to live there while we build our polytunnel and barn.

My understanding is that you can have a static on the land (classed as a mobile home) for welfare facilities as long as you're not living in it. Think you can also spend a certain number of nights sleeping there per year. You could ask the question on the Field to Farm forum and will get good advice.

Best of luck
Cheers - Micko

[little blue]

hello and welcome