Farmers and landowners in the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales will be allowed to more than double the amount of time that campers can stay on their land.
The rule under permitted development rights is that ‘pop-up’ campsites of up to 50 pitches can operate for 28 days.
But the Department for Levelling Up has now agreed to relax that to allow temporary campsites to stay for as long as 60 days, following a consultation earlier this year.
The Lake District National Park Authority confirmed this week the change means some sites in the Lake District could seek to operate for as long as 11 weeks.
A spokesperson explained that the 28-day rule would continue until next summer, alongside the new 60-day option.
That means a campsite could be allowed to stay for 88 days in total, between now and next July.
The decision has been praised by a lobbying group for land owners. But pop-up campsites have not been universally welcomed in the Lake District, a World Heritage Site.
There have been complaints they can alter the ‘character’ of the area by introducing waves of vehicles, tourists, litter and noise to previously unspoiled areas.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), heralded the change in policy as a “win”. President Mark Tufnell said: “This announcement will provide a much-needed boost to the rural economy.
“During a cost-of-living-crisis, many people want to find more affordable ways of going on holiday. This change makes it easier for farmers and land managers to diversify their businesses by creating a campsite, not just for their own benefit, but also for the benefit of other local businesses such as pubs and restaurants, and the holidaymaker themselves.”
Temporary campsites of 56 days were allowed in the aftermath of Covid, when there were restrictions on people travelling for holidays overseas.
Earlier this month, hopes of a summer campsite in the Newlands Valley near Keswick, were dashed.
Dividing opinion, the plan drew more than 80 letters of representation. The campsite at Stair opened for 56 days in 2021 and for 28 days in 2022.
The applicants then appealed to the Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate. Planning inspector TJ Burnham threw out the appeal this month and upheld the national park’s original decision.
Mr Burnham wrote: “The introduction of tents and associated vehicles to the site for large parts of the year would jar considerably with the beauty of the landscape.”
The applicants had made the case that diversifying into tourism was necessary for the farm, run by a fifth generation. It is facing the end of the European Union’s Basic Payment Scheme, which is described as a “safety net” to supplement farming incomes. Farmers are also being asked to reduce stock numbers to help the environment, which has a financial impact on income from livestock sales, representatives for the applicants had said.
