Sidlesham father ‘kicked out’ of his caravan home after seven years

Ashleigh Partridge’s caravan is situated on the business premises of Tony Partridge Autos in Highleigh Road, which he inherited from his father when he died.

Chichester District Council has issued an enforcement notice because the unauthorised caravan conflicts with the policies set out within its adopted Local Plan, which aim to prevent development in the countryside outside any defined settlement boundary other than that which is demonstrated to be essential.

Mr Partridge fought back against the decision, but his appeal was dismissed by the planning inspector – meaning he will have to leave the caravan and stop living at the site.

The 33-year-old said it was ‘so sad’ and ‘quite frustrating’, adding: “I don’t really see the issue. We’ve never caused a problem.”

His three-year-old daughter often stays with him at the caravan, and he said: “As far as she’s concerned, it’s our home.”

He said it made sense for him to live there, as he worked at the business from 9am to 6pm or later, adding: “I’m practically here all the time.”

Part of the reason he decided to live at the site was as a security measure, as he said: “There’s been lots of thefts in the area.”

Mr Partridge fears that, were the business to suffer a break-in, he would not be able to afford to replace his equipment.

But the planning inspector determined that there was ‘no evidence’ why ‘an appropriate level of security could not be provided in other ways’.

The inspector concluded that the caravan was not a suitable form of development in a rural area – but Mr Partridge said it should not be a considered a rural area as there were residential properties next door.

He said his neighbours supported him remaining at the site: “They are all happy with me being there.”

His brother Matthew Sands, from Chichester, said it made ‘zero difference to anyone’ whether his brother lived there or not.

“The thing that’s so heartbreaking for us, he has done so well to keep his head above the water throughout [the pandemic],” he said. “And now he gets hit with this.

“He is in a situation where, in the middle of a pandemic, he is being kicked out of his home.”

The council said the planning inspector had considered the impact of the decision on Mr Partridge’s housing needs and had imposed a compliance period of six months for the enforcement notice.

A council spokesman added: “We would be happy to provide the resident with housing advice, access his housing options including whether he would be eligible to join the housing register.”