New licence fees for residential caravan sites in Highland

New fees for residential caravan site licence applications have been approved by The Highland Council’s Communities and Place Committee.

The new fees are estimated to affect around 20 residential caravan sites in Highland region.

Site operators will be required to apply to Highland Council’s Environmental Health Service for a licence under the ‘Licensing of Relevant Permanent Sites (Scotland) Regulations’.

The legislation and licensing scheme were introduced to provide protection for residents living on permanent sites to provide a secure environment for them to live safely, while taking into account the amenity of the site.

The Council will be encouraging site operators to apply over a 6 month period with sites in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey invited to apply in December 2020; sites in Caithness and Sutherland to apply in March 2021; and sites in Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lochaber invited to apply in May 2021.

The cost of administering the new licence will depend on caravan site sizes and will range from 1 unit at £328 for a new licence to £650 for a site with 41 or more units.  A renewed licence will be required every 5 years with an application fee of £268 for 1 unit, up to £492 for 41 or more units.

Residential caravan site operators should contact Highland Council’s Environmental Health Team for further information at envhealth@highland.gov.uk