There are many caravan and camping sites in Purbeck. They
fall into a number of categories:
Tented Camp Sites
All tented sites which operate for more than
42 consecutive days or for more than 60 days in total in any 12
consecutive months must be licensed by Purbeck District Council
under Section 269 of the Public Health Act 1936. In addition
planning permission is required for any site where tented camping
occurs for more than 28 days per year.
Licences are issued to campsites with
conditions. These normally follow the 1989 Model Standards Schedule
C for tented sites, which cover standards for density of the site,
drinking water and waste water disposal, toilets and chemical waste
disposal arrangements, washing facilities, showers, refuse
disposal, parking arrangements, site notices and fire safety. Where
a site is licensed as both a tented site and a caravan
site, the standard contained in Schedule E will apply as the higher
standard, except in the case of there being a clear
separation in the two areas; in this case separate Conditions may
be applied in each area.
There are currently 28 licensed sites in
Purbeck.
Specified recreational organisations can
obtain an exemption certificate from the Department for Environment
Food and Rural Affairs (defra) which will allow them to camp on
land without a site licence or planning permission. An exemption
certificate is valid for 5 years and is issued subject to strict
criteria. Relevant organisations are listed on the defra website.
Permanent Holiday Caravan Sites
Caravan sites with permanently sited caravans
which are let to holidaymakers are licensed by Purbeck District
Council under Section 3 of the Caravan Sites and Control of
Development Act 1960. Such sites must have planning permission
before they are issued with a licence.
Schedule B of the 1989 Model Standards for
such sites is normally attached in full as licence conditions. It
covers standards for the density and spacing between caravans,
roads and footpaths, hardstandings, fire safety, telephones on
site, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage, electrical
installations, water supplies, drainage sanitation and washing
facilities, refuse disposal, parking, recreational space and site
notices.
There are currently 12 licensed sites in
Purbeck.
Touring Caravan Sites
All touring caravan sites which operate for
more than 42 consecutive days or for more than 60 days in total in
any 12 consecutive months must be licensed by Purbeck District
Council under Section 3 of the Caravan Sites and Control of
Development Act 1960. In addition planning permission is
required for any site which is occupied for more than 28 days per
year.
Licences are issued to campsites with
conditions. These normally follow the 1989 Model Standards Schedule
E for touring caravan sites, which cover standards for density of
the site, drinking water and waste water disposal, toilets and
chemical waste disposal arrangements, washing facilities, showers,
refuse disposal, parking arrangements, electrical installations,
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), site notices and fire safety.
Where a site is licensed as both a caravan site and
a tented site, the standard contained in Schedule E will apply as
the higher standard, except in the case of there being a
clear separation in the two areas; in this case separate Conditions
may be applied in each area. 
Caravanning organisations that meet certain
requirements can apply for certificates exempting them from the
need to obtain either a site licence or planning permission. These
are known as touring caravan exemption certificates. They are
issued by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
(defra), and the certificate can be used by the specified
organisation in any part of Great Britain. For further information
on exemption certificates, please refer to the defra website.
There are currently 27 licensed sites in
Purbeck.