Breaking the Law.

[Raywood]

A covenant is only enforceable by the party in whose favour it is drawn. This is almost always going to be the developer and not the neighbours. Once a development is complete and sold off the developer could not care less

That is a bit sweeping. Where I lived in North West Bristol, large areas used to belong to Quakers and in these areas there are covenants against caravans and pubs - that's why the NW Bristol suburbs are relatively "dry". WRT the pubs, I understand it was for lasting moral reasons and nothing to do with making the area attractive just when houses were being originally sold.

The Quakers may be an exception if they are still keeping an eye on the area and trying to enforce the covenants. Even then the courts have the power to overturn them if they feel they are unreasonable or out of date. The major builders though simply want to keep the site as they built it so prospective purchasers of unsold houses are not put off. Many new houses in England are leasehold though and the leaseholder might take a view on this and could enforce the covenant in some cases.

 

[Raywood]

I think you are right. I seem to remember that a caravan is regarded as a temporary building if it's used as an extension to the main residence.

There is a bit of info on the following website:-
http://www.selfbuildtimberframe.com/planning

Basically the council are unlikely to prevent the odd nights use, but if it is a regular thing they probably will. What constitutes regular use though is open to different interpretations and would probably need someone to report it before they became aware of it.. With timber buildings they can normally be seen and the council could become aware of them without anyone reporting them.

 

[GD485]

I don't think the local council are interested in covenants that the developers place on a new development. Ours house has some and in bans commercial use of the land. If that was applied then every other house would have a problem as a good many owners are self employed and work for home. There are vans on quite a few drives.