Changes to campsite permitted development rights
By Kate Girling | 26.07.23
Campsite permitted developments rights are being extended from 28 to 60 days in any calendar year.
If you’re a campsite operator, it’s not too late to take advantage this year, but it's also an incentive if you're considering a campsite on your land next season.
In 2022, the total number of camping and caravanning trips in the UK reached an estimated 16.7 million*, a return to pre-pandemic levels.
A green alternative
Camping and caravanning are green, cheaper alternatives to foreign travel. For a typical journey comparison, a family would save 8.6 hours of travel time, spend 92% less on transport costs, and save 95% of their CO2 emissions** - enough to brew 80,472 cups of tea (ideally Yorkshire).
Camping and caravan holidays attract a wide range of customers across socio-economic backgrounds. While the ongoing cost-of-living crisis will have an impact, the strong reputation of camping and caravanning as a budget holiday option will stand it in good stead.
Extended permitted development rights for campsites
"The Government is expanding the timeframes to allow up to 60 days in any calendar year. "
Current permitted development (PD) rights allow landowners to operate temporary campsites from their land for up to 28 days in a calendar year. The Government has recently reviewed these PD rights and is expanding the permitted timeframes to allow up to 60 days in any calendar year.
The new changes will be brought into effect from 26 July 2023.
The key details of the permitted development rights are as follows:
- The new rights will fall under Class BC, Part 4 of Schedule 2 of the of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended)
- Up to 50 plots will be allowed along with moveable structures for WCs, shower blocks, or other guest facilities (providing they too are temporary in nature).
- The rights allow a ‘caravan’ which is used as a motor vehicle (so more than just tents).
- The PD Rights can be exercised in the Green Belt, National Parks and AONBs.
- The PD Rights cannot be exercised in SSSIs, listed building curtilages or scheduled monument curtilages.
- In advance of the use commencing landowners will need to write to the relevant Planning Authority telling them when the use will start and providing details of WCs and waste disposal.
- If the site is in a flood zone the landowners will need to apply to the LPA via a Prior Approval application.
The extension to these temporary rights will provide a good opportunity to landowners looking to explore the potential for a campsite and test the market prior to a full commitment.
Contact us
If you are considering a campsite on your land, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss this further. Email Kate at info@ruralsolutions.co.uk (mailto:info@ruralsolutions.co.uk) or call 01756 797501.
Sources:
* Mintel 2023 Camping and Caravanning Industry report
** Pitched Up report
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