Plans have been submitted for a glamping development on the eastern edge of the North York Moors National Park that would introduce four remotely managed accommodation pods, a larger holiday lodge, and a storage building at Glen Esk in Ruswarp.
The application, submitted by Mr. and Mrs. D Coates, is being considered by the North York Moors National Park Authority. As of August 26, 2026, the authority has not announced a date for determining the application.
The proposed development would occupy land that was previously used as a builder’s yard. The applicants said they have managed the site for more than four years and have carried out what they described as “significant visual and environmental improvements including tidying and clearing the site of building debris and taking the woodland into control through proper management”.
The site is located near Ruswarp, which has a railway station and several local businesses and visitor facilities. The applicants said the proposed accommodation is intended to support existing tourism activity rather than compete directly with businesses in the area.
They said they hope to “complement existing businesses rather than displace them” and pointed to the site’s proximity to attractions including the River Esk, the Esk Valley Railway and the Cinder Track.
The four proposed pods would each measure approximately eight meters long by five meters wide. Plans show each unit with a small cantilevered balcony with timber balustrades, dark vertical timber cladding and a semi-circular roof. A larger two-bedroom holiday cabin measuring approximately 19 meters long would be positioned in the southern part of the site.
The applicants’ planning statement said: “The local tourism agenda relies heavily on being able to adapt to address the future challenges it presents.
“The type of accommodation and the modest supporting facilities would allow a similar type of land use to the ones that are already taking place in the locality.
“The design of the accommodation is well thought out so as not to undermine the special qualities of the locality.”
A key feature of the proposal is its operating model. The application describes the development as the North York Moors National Park’s first “virtual” site, with the accommodation managed remotely rather than relying on an on-site manager being present throughout the operation.
According to The Scarborough News, the site would be operated virtually from the applicants’ property in Whitby. For campground and glamping operators, this model could reduce the need for permanent on-site staffing, but its viability would depend on factors including guest communications, maintenance response times, cleaning arrangements, security and the ability to address issues at the property without an on-site team.
The application states: “In summary, the approach to providing four glamping pods and one large cabin is a site that has the potential to contribute to the ‘local’ tourism profile/sites in the North York Moors and coastal hinterland.”
The proposal will now be assessed through the national park planning process. Its outcome will determine whether the proposed accommodation and remote operating model can proceed at the Ruswarp site.
