Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960

24 Power of local authorities to provide sites for caravans. E+W

(1) A local authority [F1 in England] shall have power within their area to provide sites where caravans may be brought, whether for holidays or other temporary purposes or for use as permanent residences, and to manage the sites or lease them to some other person.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, a local authority shall have power to do anything appearing to them desirable in connection with the provision of such sites, and in particular—

(a) to acquire land which is in use as a caravan site, or which has been laid out as a caravan site, or

(b) to provide for the use of those occupying caravan sites any services or facilities for their health or convenience; [F2 , or

(c) to provide, in or in connection with sites for the accommodation of gipsies, working space and facilities for the carrying on of such activities as are normally carried on by them,]

and in exercising their powers under this section the local authority shall have regard to any standards which may have been specified by the Minister under subsection (6) of section five of this Act.

[F3 (2A) Before exercising the power to provide a site conferred on them by subsection (1) of this section the local authority shall consult the [F4 fire and rescue authority], if they are not themselves the [F4 fire and rescue authority],—

(a) as to measures to be taken for preventing and detecting the outbreak of fire on the site; and

(b) as to the provision and maintenance of means of fighting fire on it.]

(3) The local authority shall make in respect of the use of sites managed by them, and of any services or facilities provided or made available under this section, such reasonable charges as they may determine.

(4) A local authority may make available the services and facilities provided under this section for those who do not normally reside in the area of the local authority as freely as for those who do.

(5) A local authority shall, in the performance of their functions under this section, have power, where it appears to them that a caravan site or an additional caravan site is needed in their area, or that land which is in use as a caravan site should in the interests of the users of caravans be taken over by the local authority, to acquire land, or any interest in land, compulsorily.

(6) The power of a local authority under the last foregoing subsection to acquire land, or any interest in land, compulsorily shall be exercisable in any particular case on their being authorised to do so by the Minister, and the [F5 Acquisition of Land Act 1981], shall have effect in relation to the acquisition of land, or any interest in land, under the said subsection . . . F6

(7) A local authority shall not have power under this section to provide caravans.

(8) In this section the expression “local authority” includes the council of a county F7 .... . . [F8 and “gipsies” means persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin, but does not include members of an organised group of travelling showmen, or persons engaged in travelling circuses, travelling together as such.]

(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F9

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 24(1) inserted (E.W.) (5.11.2013) by Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 6), s. 64(1), Sch. 4 para. 1(4)(a) (with Sch. 5 para. 7) (this amendment is to be treated as not having effect until 1.10.2014 by virtue of S.I. 2014/11, art. 3(2))

F2 S. 24(2)(c) inserted (3.11.1994) by 1994 c. 33, ss. 80(2)(a), 172(4)

F3 S. 24(2A) inserted by Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (c. 30, SIF 81:1), s. 8(2)(d)

F4 Words in s. 24(2A) substituted (E.W.) (1.10.2004 for E., 10.11.2004 for W.) by Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21), para. 14(3)(c)s. 61, Sch. 1 para. 14(2); S.I. 2004/2304, art. 2; S.I. 2004/2917, art. 2

F5 Words substituted by Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (c. 67, SIF 28:1), s. 34, Sch. 4 para. 1

F6 Words repealed by Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (c. 67, SIF 28:1), s. 34, Sch. 6 Pt. I

F7 Words in s. 24(8) omitted (E.W.) (5.11.2013) by virtue of Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 6), s. 64(1), Sch. 4 para. 1(4)(b) (with Sch. 5 para. 7) (this amendment is to be treated as not having effect until 1.10.2014 by virtue of S.I. 2014/11, art. 3(2))

F8 Words in s. 24(8) inserted (3.11.1994) by 1994 c. 33, ss. 80(2)(a), 172(4)

F9 Ss. 24(9), 31 repealed by London Government Act 1963 (c. 33), Sch. 18 Pt. II

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 24 extended by Caravan Sites Act 1968 (c. 52), ss. 6, 7(1)

C2 S. 24 extended (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 70, 125(2), Sch. 9, para. 4(a)

C3 S. 24 functions made exercisable concurrently (E.W.) (with effect in accordance with art. 25(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1777), arts. 1, 25(2)(xiv) (with art. 35)

C4 S. 24 functions made exercisable concurrently (with effect in accordance with art. 25(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1778), arts. 2, 25(1)(2)(xiv) (with art. 35)