Since July 2023, farmers and landowners across England have had a new opportunity to generate additional income from their land through extended permitted development rights for temporary camping.
In simple terms: you may be able to use part of your land as a campsite for up to 60 days per calendar year — without needing full planning permission.
These rules are set out in Schedule 2, Part 4, Class BC of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2023.
What this actually allows:
If your land is suitable, the rules allow you to create a small, temporary campsite with:
- Up to 60 days of use per calendar year
- A maximum of 50 pitches
- Space for tents, campervans, and motorhomes
- Temporary toilet and shower facilities (as long as they are removed when not in use)
Important: any day temporary facilities remain on site counts towards your 60-day limit — even if the site isn’t occupied.
Where this does NOT apply:
The 60-day camping allowance cannot be used if your land is:
- A Scheduled Monument
- A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
- A Listed Building site
- A military explosives storage area
- A safety hazard area
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In some cases, additional licensing is required from your local council if:
- The site operates for more than 42 consecutive days, or
- You go beyond the 60-day annual limit
Your local authority can confirm whether a tent and camping licence is required.
Before using the land under this rule, you must notify your Local Planning Authority every year. If you don’t notify them, the permitted development rights do not apply — meaning the campsite would not be lawful.
What you need to provide depends on whether your land is in a flood zone.
You can check this using the UK Government Flood Map.
Flood Zone 1 (low risk land)
You’ll typically need:
- Site address
- Simple site plan (showing toilets and waste disposal)
- Proposed operating dates (up to 60 days)
Flood Zones 2 and 3 (higher risk land)
You’ll need to submit a prior notification, including:
- Completed application form
- Flood risk assessment
- Site address
- Detailed site plan (toilets and waste arrangements)
- Operating dates (up to 60 days)
- Application fee (around £240, depending on the council)
Why this matters for our clients:
This change opens the door for landowners to diversify income — particularly on:
- Grassland near scenic areas
- Underused paddocks
- Farm land near walking routes, coastlines, or attractions
For many farms, it offers a low-risk, seasonal income stream without the complexity of full planning permission!
If you are interested in a camp site on your farm, please contact us on 01829423183.