Do I Need Planning Permission to Trade From Private Car Park

by Julie
(Hampshire)

I purchased a trailer which i have spent quite a lot of money refurbishing it. I now have the relevant gas and electric certificates. I have Food and Hygiene level 2 and environmental health have inspected my van and said i am registered to trade.

I rent 2 car parking places in a private car park that belongs to my landlord who owns a furniture shop. He uses the car park for his customer parking and it is not open to the public.

He also rents a couple of spaces to people that work close by. The reason i rent two car parking places is that when i spoke to environmental health they said i would have to move the trailer daily or it would be permanent and then i would need planning permission.

I plan to do shows and boot sales some weekends so it would not be permanent.My local councils planning have now informed me that i now need to apply for planning permission for the change of use of a car parking place to a trading place.

I do have my landlords full permission and he does not want them two car parking places for parking which is why he rents them to me. My plan is to trade from one place where i can be seen by the public and the at night push it back out of sight to the other space.

Many thanks Julie.

Comments for Do I Need Planning Permission to Trade From Private Car Park

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Mar 11, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Inquire
by: Ross

Hi a bought burgers a have refurb van opened van up all paper work hygiene gas safety certificate but a Told because it's on private land has being for aboot 18years that no trades licence is need because it's on private land and were it's park up have no problem can anyone she'd bit of light plz
Dec 12, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		burger van
by: Anonymous

I'm thinking of starting a burger van business in car park I have my health hygience cert can you tell me what other certs I need to start up
May 13, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Move Trailer Off Site
by: David-

Hi Dave,

I would move it off site completely to be on the safe site. I worked on a pitch and use to take my trailer home or into a secure location. This way you will have peace of mind. You don’t really want to move it to a location that is not secure just for convenience, as this will also leave your vehicle open to theft/loss or damage.

Best o f luck
David
Apr 12, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Private Land - How Far To Move The Trailer
by: dave m

I am in a similar situation myself ,I have not put my money into it yet and undecided what to do ,as i am waiting to hear weather i can get a trading licence yet.

I know I have a lot more rights than I am lead to believe I have,you incriminate yourself by believing what the councils tell you. You got to study and know what to say and do,well thats another story.

Here is my situation. I am in negotiations at the moment about buying a catering trailer,I seem to be having problems with getting a trading licence, the trailer is on private land on a private road, and i have permission to be there from the owner, it is on a industrial estate.

I have been told i have to move it daily or get planning permission for it to stay were it is ,if this is the case how far would I have to move the catering trailer from the pitch so its not counted as static.

It has wheels on it and can be moved at anytime, I just leave it at this pitch for convenience. I would be grateful if anyone could give me any information .
Nov 14, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Planning Permission
by: Anonymous

We have a van- not a trailer- .The parking is done on a similar small business car park as well like yours. The council made us get planning permission ( full amount) for the same reason- change of use. Normally this should apply if there has been any material modification to the land in which our case there has not been any.

We work six days a week. We arrive in the morning and the van leaves to be parked elsewhere- no where near the work area.

I am very resentful towards the council. They invite big businesses to the area for nothing yet they are determined to make small business' suffer right from the beginning. They have a clause that states that every case will be judged in its own merit meaning they can do as they like and request unreasonable charges as they please...

Is there anyone out there who knows otherwise?
Good luck in your venture. We hope you'll do well..
Aug 13, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Trading On Private Land
by: David-

Hi Julie,

As you have stated planning permission is needed if the trailer intends to be sited permanently each day on private land. You should also be aware that this can also trigger commercial rates which will be more favorable for any local council.

I would just confirm this so that you know the full extent of any extra cost you may be liable for. I’m not sure if using one space and then moving it to another space will qualify as not “permanently sited”, so just double check.

I know someone who use to park in different places on a car par and this seemed to work for him.

Anyway please do keep us updated.

Best of luck,
David

PS. Get my free guide on Starting a Mobile Catering Business Guide


Mobile Catering Start-Up Pack

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Mobile Catering Licence .


Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.