A fire at the site in April 2025 destroyed several caravans and caused damage to others
Caravans must be cleared from a site in Cambridge after the Planning Inspectorate dismissed an appeal by the landowners. The Laurels, part of the Fen Road Gypsy and Traveller site in Chesterton, must be cleared by November 2026.
A fire at The Laurels in April 2025 involved several caravans, outbuildings, vehicles, and a stable block. South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) then served an enforcement notice on the site, since caravans there did not have planning permission.
Planning permission was granted in 2014 for land at The Laurels to be used as seven caravan plots for Travellers. Five caravans were destroyed across two plots in the fire, while four caravans on an additional plot were removed or ceased being used.
The Planning Inspectorate notice from February 2026 states that use of the land as a caravan site must end, and all caravans and residential paraphernalia must be removed. All hardstanding must be removed, as must all materials and waste associated with removing the caravans and other materials.
SCDC investigations found that some people living in caravans were not Gypsies or Travellers, which is a requirement of the planning permissions. Four additional enforcement notices have been served on several parts of the Fen Road site and are currently progressing through the legal process.
It followed a coordinated visit to the site by SCDC staff in October last year, which aimed to ensure the site was meeting planning regulations. A council spokesperson said that staff spoke with residents living in around 100 caravans to understand who was at the site.


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