The answer, of course, is that normally a change of use of land would require planning permission but there are exceptions. In particular, General Permitted Development Order 1995 allows planning permission for the use of land for up to 28 days in each calendar year on a temporary basis. Thus, temporary use as a car park would be allowed (for up to 28 days). However, the right to install a temporary use is not unqualified, and it does not apply at all to a site within a curtilage of a building (ie the site must be open land). Also, the temporary use rights do not apply to all uses (eg caravan sites are subject to special controls, whilst the holding of markets and vehicle racing may take place for only 14 days pa). There is one final and important caveat to all of this. It is possible for an LA to argue that a temporary change of use will result in the loss of existing use rights. So, the wise will take advice or consult the LA before claiming temporary use rights. Source: Lovells. © Practical Lawyer