To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has issued on whether stop notices can be used against temporary dwellings erected by Travellers which are not caravans. (282482)

Guidance on the use of stop notices is contained in Annex 3 of “ODPM Circular 10/97: Enforcing planning control: legislative provisions and procedural requirements”. The circular states that a stop notice may be used to prohibit the use of land as a site for a caravan occupied by any person as his or her own main residence. A stop notice cannot prohibit the use of any building as a dwelling house. The Department has not issued guidance on whether stop notices can be used against temporary dwellings.