50 pitches allowed for 60-days under Permitted Development rights

What are the Permitted Development rights?

The Permitted Development rights mean that land can be used as a campsite for no longer than 60-days within a calendar year with a maximum of 50 pitches.  The key when setting up a new campsite is to get an onsite provision for the use of toilet/shower facilities along with waste disposal which can be solved by hiring or purchasing a mobile toilet/shower block. The 60-day time limit is initiated as soon as the mobile WC facility is onsite.  You must notify the local authority of the campsite with which was not previously a provision under the old 28-day rule.  

There are certain circumstances where this Permitted Development right would not be permitted such as a scheduled monument, if there is a listing building on the site or if it is within flood zone 2 or 3. When it comes to flood zones the local authority would need to approve the development (prior approval) which would require a site specific flood risk assessment for the provision of warning and evacuation of the campsite.   

What has changed with the Permitted Development rights?

Stephen Richards, head of leisure for Carter Jonas comments “In Covid, the 28-day rule was doubled to 56-days to help the tourism industry, but this was revoked in 2022 with many of our clients and campsite operators lobbying the Government to increase the Permitted Development rights to 72-days, giving a 3-month window to open a campsite over the summer months of July-September. The Government legislation has decided that a 2-month period would be the best option, meaning that most campsite operators will open from mid-July to mid-September to take the main revenue from the school holidays over the peak summer months.   

The idea of the Government is to align the Permitted Development rights with the licencing regime moving forward.  Many clients and landowners with picturesque settings may consider diversifying their smallholdings.  With the emergence of wild camping, facilities such as a mobile shower/toilet block which can be hired could make a 60-day campsite economic when the previous 28-day rule was not a worthwhile economic venture.” 

What are Carter Jonas seeing in this space?

Carter Jonas have already received enquiries from established clients in the holiday letting sector that are interested in extending their offering and see the new 60-day rule as a quick win to add turnover.  Many clients that have glamping businesses already have shower and toilet facilities in place so makes this new 60 day rule an easy addition to their existing business. 

How can we help?

Carter Jonas specialises in the valuation and sale of leisure property such as holiday cottage complexes, lodge parks, campsites, glamping businesses, self-catering accommodation and caravan parks with a proven track record.  They have a long-established department based in Taunton, covering the whole of the South West and the country along with 34 offices nationwide including 9 in London.   

Carter Jonas can also provide advice to new starters entering the market through to farmers/landowners who are looking to diversify into the holiday letting sector.  The popularity of glamping sites for sale and holiday cottage complexes for sale has grown dramatically throughout the pandemic as people look to move out of urban areas to the countryside for a change in lifestyle.  Properties of this type can offer a home with income or a fully-fledged business, making the move from the city to the country financially viable.  

You can view the current holiday letting business listings at www.carterjonas.co.uk/rural-leisure. Carter Jonas specialises in the valuation and sale of leisure property. Carter Jonas can also provide advice to new starters entering the market through to farmers/landowners who are looking to diversify into the holiday letting sector. The popularity of glamping sites for sale and holiday cottage complexes for sale has grown dramatically. Properties of this type can offer a home with income or a fully-fledged business, making the move from the city to the country financially viable.