The Use of Private Land for Off Road 4x4 Vehicles - Rules?

Help please chaps:

Some of you guys may be able to elaborate further on the subject of off-roading rights and the usage of 4x4s on private land.

It seems that the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (SI 1995/418) allows for a land owner to permit others to use his own land for the purpose of off-road vehicle usage to a maximum capped period of 28-days per year without planning permission (i.e. change of use) being granted by the council.

Is it for this reason that some Pay and Play sites only open for 2-3 days per month?

I am led to believe that local Planning permission should be obtained if the change of use is intended to last beyond a 28-day accumulated period per year, and then, conditions may be applied to the use. Such permission will be incredibly difficult to obtain in many areas.

Am I correct guys or can someone put me straight.

Thanks all,

Andrew

As for the small details like number of days I'm not sure but the rest of it is what I was told by a guy running a 4x4 site

warrior said:

As for the small details like number of days I'm not sure but the rest of it is what I was told by a guy running a 4x4 site

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Thanks mate, I'm looking at a place which would be ideal for an off road site. I've found nothing in my immediate area which allows for 4x4 usages so there must be a need.

I have so far spoken with the Forestry Commission and the Council but the second of the two was as much good as tits on a fish when I consulted them!

did that link work?

Yes it does

My take on that is for a site that is used for Motorsport (including 4x4's) you have 14days per calendar year that it can be used for Motorsport, which I guess is why usually pay and play sites are 1 day a month, often with a 'special extra opening' at Christmas, or sometime mid summer. And if you use the land for more than the 14 given days you have to change the declared use of the land, from what I assume at the moment is a field or garden to something like a Motorsport site, and I'm guessing that if you get to the point of changing that declaration, it will cost mega bucks, as race tracks cost so much to run etc.

Just thought I'd say I'm not an expert, I'm 18

the 14 day bit is still a grey area because 4x4 aren't racing or doing speed trials. you can bet the council will be on you like a tonne of bricks but as long as you follow the rules they cant do anything. but what ever you do, don't let anyone make a mess on the roads when they exit your land.

I agree with above the area seems a touch grey, but I think if you did it 14 days or less, then no one can say much, however, I think that there is a law that means that you cannot go more than 2meters on the road while dropping mud off the vehicle (I've heard this spoken about at work, because some sites we go to such as solar farms, are incredibly muddy), so if it's a muddy site, maybe provide a hose if possible for a quick rinse of peoples motors before they go on the road. Out of interest, how close are other houses? I would guess if it's a good mile away I don't think you really have any locals to do any complaining

Rasher said:

the 14 day bit is still a grey area because 4x4 aren't racing or doing speed trials. you can bet the council will be on you like a tonne of bricks but as long as you follow the rules they cant do anything. but what ever you do, don't let anyone make a mess on the roads when they exit your land.

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Rasher, you're a star; many thanks indeed! I'm provisionally interpreting the rules to define motorsport as an organised event with a competitive nature but I'll have to investigate the definition further.

ben waine said:

I agree with above the area seems a touch grey, but I think if you did it 14 days or less, then no one can say much, however, I think that there is a law that means that you cannot go more than 2meters on the road while dropping mud off the vehicle (I've heard this spoken about at work, because some sites we go to such as solar farms, are incredibly muddy), so if it's a muddy site, maybe provide a hose if possible for a quick rinse of peoples motors before they go on the road. Out of interest, how close are other houses? I would guess if it's a good mile away I don't think you really have any locals to do any complaining

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Thanks Ben, that seems very sensible and I reckon any fowling of the roads will have severe consequences.

All the best,

A

Now more Importantly, buy the land!, I wana go, I wana, go I wana go!

ben waine said:

Now more Importantly, buy the land!, I wana go, I wana, go I wana go!

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- You won't be surprised to know that the purchase of said land is not going to be a walk in the park either.

I'll PM you when we're ready to go, that said, it will take a few more weeks regarding the land issue/purchase.

Good luck with this Andrew

Dunk off mkivsupra

dunkan said:

Good luck with this Andrew

Dunk off mkivsupra

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Hi Good mate - that's really good of you Dunk. You'll have to pop up when we're ready to go

ben waine said:

however, I think that there is a law that means that you cannot go more than 2meters on the road while dropping mud off the vehicle (I've heard this spoken about at work, because some sites we go to such as solar farms, are incredibly muddy),...

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tell that to the bloody farmers exiting their wet, muddy fields, especially after muck spreading!

I must have been on to the local rozzers 3 or 4 times last year due to some farmers leaving a swath of mud about 200 metres long, let alone 2!

Well I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure that there are 'sanctions' that SHOULD happen, I'm not saying poor authorities, mainly because I'm not sure, I can imagine that if there's no practical way to recify the problem then prehaps it would get overlooked, I'm friends with some farming families and to be fair to them, they've got more than mud to worry about !

ben waine said:

Well I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure that there are 'sanctions' that SHOULD happen, I'm not saying poor authorities, mainly because I'm not sure, I can imagine that if there's no practical way to recify the problem then prehaps it would get overlooked, I'm friends with some farming families and to be fair to them, they've got more than mud to worry about !

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There are sanctions, but Im not sure exactly what they are. Our land is not close to made roads, and we don't grow veg or anything. But the growers are supposed to put up signs warnig of mud on the roads, and to sweep with tractor mounted brush if it is very bad. And if they don't I think action can be taken.
Mud, and other stuff in the country roads, aint so much of a problem if people don't hit it going far too fast.

And I think yu are absolutely right about the farming families

Turboman said:

Mud, and other stuff in the country roads, aint so much of a problem if people don't hit it going far too fast.

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True fact, but if only "mud on road" signs would be used with more regularity! (Only needs to be a hand painted by of scrap barn door etc. etc.! )

Back to the OP, I wonder if a simple sign would suffice there too?

DIFFLOCK66 said:

True fact, but if only "mud on road" signs would be used with more regularity! (Only needs to be a hand painted by of scrap barn door etc. etc.! )

Back to the OP, I wonder if a simple sign would suffice there too?

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The big veg growers round here do put up signs if it is bad, or on main road. The signs are red and white purpose made, about 2foot by 3.

The speed issue is key though, many round here are flying round blind bends at sixty on the lanes. At that speed they will not see the sign, let alone the mud. And then they whinge that their alloy wheels is fooked!

They should be glad, might have been a stray animal. or even a child, in the road instead of the mud!