Welsh farmers urged to weigh in on campsite planning rules

Farmers and landowners in Wales have until 1 July to make their voices heard on a proposed extension to permitted development rights (PDR) that could help boost the rural economy.

The Welsh government has launched a consultation to align PDR for temporary campsites and other land uses with English law, which allows for up to 60 days of camping each year.

Currently, Welsh farmers and landowners can only operate pop-up campsites for 28 days a year.

See also: Welsh farmers shun pop-up campsites as planning laws differ

The move aims to address concerns that Welsh farmers are at a competitive disadvantage compared to their English counterparts, who have benefited from extended PDR since 2023.

The consultation proposes extending the rights to 60 days for tents, campervans, and motorhomes, but not for touring caravans.

The changes would also introduce a 100m buffer zone around “protected buildings” and require a prior notification procedure to ensure local authorities can assess issues such as vehicular access and waste management.

However, the consultation, initially scheduled for autumn last year, has drawn criticism for being too late to impact this year’s holiday season.

‘Missed opportunity’

Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, which has been lobbying for the extension, expressed frustration.

“The consultation doesn’t end until July, and with the time needed to change the legislation, it will have little to no effect on struggling farmers this year,” he said.

This is the second consultation on extending PDR since the Covid-19 pandemic, and Mr Yates argues that Wales has the most to gain from such a move.

Data from Pitchup.com indicates that 34% of holidays in Wales involve camping or caravanning, compared to just 20% in England.

Despite previous calls and a positive response to an earlier consultation, the Welsh government has not yet made any decisions.

Have your say on the consultation on the Welsh government website.