Extension to permitted development rights unlocks avenues in farm diversification
10th July 2023
Farmers and landowners in England can now run pop-up campsites for up to 60 days per year without the need to apply for additional planning permission, which Pitchup.com said could offer a lifeline to struggling rural communities.
The decision follows extensive government consultation on the issue and campaigning by industry to have PDR extended, which has been proven to inject millions in the rural economy, Pitchup.com founder Dan Yates said.
The move provides farmers with the opportunity to generate much-needed additional income during the summer staycation season by allowing landowners to operate sites for tents, campervans and motorhomes for up to 60 days.
This is conditional to the site having no more than 50 pitches, the provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities, and landowners notifying their local authority of their plans before the start of the season.
Mr Yates described the move as a ‘gigantic shot in the arm’ for rural communities in England. He said previous figures from Pitchup.com have shown extending PDR from 28 from 56 days per year between COVID lockdowns had generated an additional £25m for the rural economy in 2021 alone.
Therefore, he was disappointed to see the government revert to the previous 28 days in December that year, nonetheless he was eager to welcome the new, permanent extension to PDR.
“It goes to show they’ve listened – to farmers, to rural communities, to bodies such as the CLA, and to ourselves,” he remarked.
“As we saw, the previous temporary extension generated millions of pounds within a single year. A permanent extension will have a far greater impact, leading to genuine, long-term prosperity for farms and rural communities.”
The current rules state a camping licence is still required for sites to accept tents for more than 42 consecutive days, and a caravan site license is likely to be required for motorhomes or campervans.
To qualify, sites must also not be in the curtilage of a listed building, on an SSSI or scheduled monument, in a safety hazard area or in an area where military explosives are stored.
Mr Yates added the timing of the rule change couldn’t have been better for the farming sector. “Farmers are facing huge uncertainties about how their industry will be financed in the future and what they’ll have to do to make farming businesses sustainable.
“The extension to PDR will have a real-world impact on issues like this, leading to happier, healthier, and more prosperous rural communities. We are delighted the government has finally decided to do it.”
