Farmers and landowners can now make use of their land to provide temporary campsites and filming locations for longer following a recent government announcement. Here is what you need to know:
Campsites
The decision by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will see an increase in permitted development rights (PDR) for temporary recreational campsites of up to 50 tents for a maximum of 60 nights per calendar year – an increase from the current limit of 28.
Recent years have seen a boom in demand for domestic holidays, originating during the Covid pandemic when travelling abroad was severely limited, during which time the PDR time frame was extended by the government to 56 days across England.
More than 1,000 people took part in a public consultation held by DLUHC earlier this year seeking to extend the limit again. The proposals originally suggested a 30-tent threshold for 60 nights, with an increase made following the feedback received.
Filming
In addition to the amendments to PDR for camping, rights for temporary filming purposes – such as locations for films and TV series – have also been extended in an effort by the government to boost the country’s flourishing film production industry. This will see the window extended to 12 months in any 27-month period from the present nine-month limit.
The confirmed changes also include the doubling of the area of land permissible to use for filming to three hectares and an increase in the height of temporary structures, works, plant or machinery from 15 metres to 20 metres.
Alex Madden, Partner in the Thrings Planning and Environment team, said: “This announcement by the government is great news for farmers and landowners across the country, providing more ways for them to generate revenue from their land by diversifying their activities into the tourism and media industries.
“Not only does this have the potential to benefit the landowners directly, but also the surrounding communities, bringing more people to the area. To make sure they are taking full advantage of the changes, and to make sure they are staying on the right side of the new legislation, farmers and landowners should seek sound professional and legal advice.”
Thrings’ Planning and Environment lawyers have extensive experience in navigating complex local and national planning policy legislation and has successfully supported commercial and residential applications through the approval and appeal processes. To find out more and for advice on your development proposals, including how to address enforcement notices, please do get in touch.