A proposal to establish a small glamping site on agricultural land near Lancaster is under review after an application was submitted to Lancaster City Council seeking confirmation that the development can operate under an existing statutory exemption rather than through the standard planning process.
Applicant Anthony Gardner has applied for a lawful development certificate covering the proposed placement of five glamping pods on land off Littlefell Lane at a site known as Blossom Tree Camping. Rather than seeking conventional planning permission, the application asks the council to determine whether the proposal qualifies for operation under provisions of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
According to planning documents, the site already holds an exemption certificate issued by the Freedom Camping Club that permits up to five caravans to be stationed on the land for recreational use by members of the organization. The current exemption certificate is valid from May 27, 2026, through May 26, 2027.
Supporting documents state that the proposed development would consist of no more than five factory-built glamping pods intended for short-term holiday accommodation. The application says the pods would meet the legal definition of a caravan because they would be movable without demolition or dismantling.
Planning documents also indicate that the pods would be installed on removable supports rather than permanent foundations or concrete bases, according to Lancashire Telegraph. The proposal does not include significant engineering works, and pedestrian access would be provided through removable matting. An existing access road and parking area would continue to serve the site.
The application also outlines a seasonal operating model. Under the proposal, all five glamping pods would be removed from the property between January 1 and March 31 each year. During that period, the removable supports, utility connections, and pedestrian matting would also be taken away, allowing the land to revert to agricultural use.
A supporting statement submitted by planning consultancy Graham Anthony Associates said: “The proposal represents the temporary stationing of five glamping pods operating under a valid Freedom Camping Exemption Certificate.
“The pods will be movable structures which satisfy the statutory definition of a caravan.
“They involve no permanent operational development, no permanent foundations and no irreversible alteration to the land.”
The submitted site layout identifies five parking spaces connected to an existing hard-surfaced access area.
Lancaster City Council will now assess whether the proposal meets the legal requirements for the issuance of a lawful development certificate. Unlike a traditional planning application, the certificate would determine whether the proposed use is lawful under existing legislation rather than evaluating the broader planning merits of the development.
For campground, caravan park, and glamping operators, the application illustrates how statutory exemptions and lawful development certificates can provide alternative regulatory pathways for certain small-scale accommodations when projects meet specific legal criteria.
Operators considering similar developments may benefit from reviewing how movable structures, seasonal operations, and minimal permanent site alterations align with applicable legislation and exemption schemes before pursuing expansion plans.