Setting up a campsite

[CaptainSlow]

Mods...not sure which sub forum to use.

If I wanted to set up a campsite on farm/agricultural land, what sort of planning would I require? Plan would be to have a shop and shower/toilet block. Visitors could use motorhomes and or tents.

[WorAl]

You will have to get permission from your local authority for a change in commercial use. Give them a call and speak to someone about it.

[Summertime]

Or buy a plot of land from a farmer make sure you have running water and electricity job done.

[Eric Mc]

I would suggest it belongs in "The Business Forum".

[GTIR]

You'll defo need some tents.

[Chris_w666]

Apply for change of use, wait for the objections to roll in.

[davidjpowell]

Try ringing Caravan Club / Caranvan and Camping Club. They both have a lot of information available.

[EDLT]

Just turn up with a caravan and some dags.

[camp freddie]

You could set up a Camping and Caravan licenced site, the franchise costs circa £34k I believe, but you will apparently get nicer clients. This type of site will demand full time staff, nice facilities etc.

Alternatively you could establish a CL, which farmers and land owners often do, which will typically have 5-10 carvan limit. All you'll need is electricity, water and a cess pit/tank. Get approved by the Caravan Club and/ or Camping Club and providing the area's nice you should customers with very little effort.

Or you could set up a commercial site, such as those found at seaside resorts. To generate guaranteed income you could rent seasonal pitches to static holiday homes, which may be of interest to the big holiday companies.

All the above will require relevant permissions, but failing that, set up then when somebody complains claim the caravanners are didicoys using your land without permission.

I looked into this last year after noticing how succesful the Les Castel chain of camping site are in France. Not sure it'd be so successful here in the UK though.

I am not a caravan owner by the way!

[BigBen]

GTIR said:

You'll defo need some tents.

Why ?

[HOGEPH]

BigBen said:

GTIR said:

You'll defo need some tents.

Why ?

To offer an intense experience.

[Four Cofffee]

HOGEPH said:

BigBen said:

GTIR said:

You'll defo need some tents.

Why ?

To offer an intense experience.

Try pitching that idea to an investor. They will want a guide price.

[CaptainSlow]

I'm only wanting to canvas opinion to peg down the guidelines.

[superlightr]

I would suggest to start with a level playing field

[DavidY]

You can use farmland/agricultural land for up to 28 days per year without a change of use, any more requires a change of use.

First port of call will be your local authority planning dept, just suss out if they are likely to grant change of use (they may not if they feel that there are already too many camp/caravan sites etc in your area).

The other 'big' area to investigate is insurance

But I reckon (having looked into it) that iether you need a very popular area or be able to offer a niche holiday to make it really viable.

davidy

[Solitude]

Our summer ends tomorrow,so you may wanna think about moving that field to the Algarve if you want any Punters.

[majordad]

Halting sites for travelers seem not to need planning permission, or at least permission is easier to come by. I know of a least one person who threatened his neighbours with this if they caused any trouble for a house extension he was planning .

[whythem]

You could start with two tents. That way starting would not be too tense