Ministers accused of “stalling” over temporary campsites decision

Government ministers have been accused of “stalling” over the outcome of a consultation on permitted development rights (PDR), which closed in April this year.

PDR allows farmers and landowners to run temporary campsites for up to 28 days each year without needing to apply for extra planning permission.

During the Covid-19 pandemic this was extended to 56 days, generating over £25m of extra revenue for the rural economy in 2021. However, PDR reverted back to 28 days at the end of 2021, prompting holiday booking business Pitchup to lobby the government for a permanent extension.

Pitchup founder Dan Yates is now urging the government to announce its decision following the consultation.

The new rural funding package, Unleashing Rural Opportunity, includes a £7m pot to improve rural connectivity and a consultation on cutting red tape to make it easier for farmers to turn unused buildings into homes. Other areas covered include funding to combat rural crime, and consultations on funding for small abattoirs.

Commenting on the new rural funding package, he said: “Whereas financial support is likely to be met with cautious optimism, the plan is currently light on detail. But what we do know is that some key parts will require further consultations before being implemented, which means it could be a long time before changes are felt on the ground.

“Extending PDR, by contrast, is quick and easy to do, and is something that is already proven to inject millions of pounds into the rural economy over a short period of time.”

Pitchup analysis has revealed that extending PDR didn’t just benefit farmers – with nearly half of the £25m additional revenue generated by temporary campsites in 2021 being spent on communities surrounding the campsites.

Mr Yates concluded: “Funding is all very well and in many cases, much needed. But alongside this, the government should be empowering communities to help themselves with initiatives like extending PDR.

“This costs the government nothing and would have an almost immediate and huge financial impact on the rural economy. We implore ministers to clarify their position as soon as possible.”