Farmers and landowners may be allowed to double in the length of time they can host popup campsites without planning permission, under a government consultation that aims to boost rural tourism.
The move, capped at 30 tents and requiring some facilities, would echo a temporary dispensation introduced in 2020 and 2021 to help countryside businesses recover from the pandemic.
The consultation will also look into how limitations could be amended to help support the use of solar power.
This includes a proposed new PD right for solar canopies which would allow for canopies up to 4 metres high in ground-level off-street vehicle parking in non-domestic settings.
The NFU will be submitting a response on behalf of members, focusing on both the changes to temporary campsite rules and the new and existing PD rights for solar canopies and equipment.
NFU Chief Renewable Energy and Climate Change adviser Jonathan Scurlock highlighted that whilst the proposals for PD rights for rooftop solar are already generous, the new right for non-domestic solar canopies could allow members to make good use of yard space, supporting future needs for electric vehicle charging.
However, the NFU’s Chief Land Management Adviser Sam Durham said: “While measures to help the rural economy capitalise on its potential are to be applauded, the proposals need to be considered in the wider context of competition for agricultural land use.
“There is also a potential clash with eligibility for future agri-environment schemes and BPS, and a possible risk of losing agricultural land status through material land use change, which is difficult to reverse once lost. All of that would need to be factored into decisions, should these proposals be adopted.”
Contact sam.durham@nfu.org.uk to express views on temporary campsite rules and jonathan.scurlock@nfu.org.uk for views on rights for solar development.
