28-day pop-up campsites: what you need to know for the 2021 season
What is the 28-day rule for pop-up campsites?
Under the so-called 28-day rule, anyone with sufficient space and facilities can open up a campsite for 28 days, without requiring planning permission. The facilities required are toilets and showers, though these can be temporary and/or mobile – or could exist for the purposes of another enterprise.
It has been frequently capitalised on by leisure businesses, such as campsites wanting to expand their capacity for the busiest month of the year, or by farmers or other businesses who want to make the most of demand to generate some extra income.
What changed for the campsite rules in 2020?
In order to give a much-needed boost to the leisure and hospitality industries after their forced closure due to the pandemic, the 28-day rule was extended to become the 56-day rule in 2020.
When this extension was put in place, an end date was not stipulated so, at the present time, the extension remains in place.
What’s the pop-up campsite situation in 2021?
While the extended 56-day period remains in place for the summer of 2021, the leisure industry is lobbying for this to be further extended to 72 days.
The argument from lobbyists is that these businesses have suffered another unexpected and extended closure and need the economic boost more than ever.
And it’s not only the owners of the pop-up campsites who stand to benefit – there are countless other businesses that rely on tourist trade to turn a profit – shops, pubs, outdoor activities and more.
How can I make the most of the rules?
With foreign summer holidays looking precarious, the domestic leisure industry is facing another bumper summer.
Stephen Richards, Head of Leisure at Carter Jonas, said: “As anyone who has tried to book a staycation in 2021 will know, demand for holiday accommodation in the tourist hotspots of the UK are currently hugely outstripping demand.
"The excess demand for holidays means that popular tourist locations such as the South West, Lake District, Peak District, Cotswolds and North Wales will not have enough accommodation. These pop-up campsites will fill the gap and boost the rural economy after the difficult circumstances of last year.”
