Shetland Islands Council launches enforcement action against developer of caravan park built without planning permission

On September 11 at 4:03 pm, fire crews from Wells, Street and Somerton were called to a caravan fire in Glastonbury, Somerset. The blaze spread to a second caravan and a hedgerow. One caravan was completely destroyed, the second sustained 20% fire damage, and 10 metres of hedgerow were 40% damaged. The cause is believed to be deliberate.

Senior councillor Allison Duncan asked a planning officer whether anyone in Shetland can build without permission and get away with it. The Grutness caravan park is in use despite lacking planning permission; the officer said he could not answer the question. Sepa is investigating waste water discharges, and the council has not disclosed the developer's name.

Freya Gill and Charlie Thackwray, both 29, moved into a caravan owned by Charlie's mother to avoid high rents. They later relocated it to a plot in North Allerton, where they lived for over a year and saved around £20,000 (€23,281). Renting in their area would have cost £750 per month. They bought an upgraded caravan for £16,000 (€18,625) with adjustable heating, a water pump and heated towel rails in the shower. According to them, living in the caravan is £500 cheaper than renting, and they do not pay for gas, water or council tax. They do not plan to move until they save enough to buy their own plot of land.

A planning application has been submitted to expand Reynard Crag Holiday Park near High Birstwith in North Yorkshire, adding six pitches for static caravans or lodges.

CaravanTimes has published five recommendations for solo motorhome travellers. They include sharing your route and overnight stops with a trusted contact, choosing well-reviewed campsites with secure gates and lighting, parking for a quick exit, using steering wheel locks, door alarms or dash cams, and trusting your instincts to move on if a spot feels wrong.

Deepdale Camping & Rooms in Burnham Deepdale on the north Norfolk coast has won the top title at the 2026 ACSI Awards, the only UK winner in this year's scheme. ACSI, a European campsite inspection scheme founded in 1965, visits thousands of campsites across Europe, with inspectors staying on-site and assessing all aspects of the experience. The site accommodates tents, campervans, motorhomes, trailer tents and roof tents, and also offers self-catering rooms, a visitor information centre and bike hire. It previously received the AA’s Small Campsite of the Year 2023/24 and TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, and was an honourable mention in the 2024 ACSI Awards, ranking in the top five in the UK and Ireland.