Plans have been submitted to develop a four-pod glamping site on agricultural land at Manor Farm in Thornhaugh, near Wittering, Peterborough, as part of an effort to diversify the farm’s income and support tourism in the area.
The proposal, submitted to Peterborough City Council, would create four glamping pods equipped with hot tubs and decking areas. The site would include five parking spaces and would be operated with the support of two part-time staff members.
According to the BBC, the development is intended to complement Manor Farm’s existing holiday accommodation business. The applicant said the farm has already diversified into tourism through holiday cottages, which it says have performed well and demonstrated demand for rural visitor accommodation in the area.
The application’s design statement describes the proposed glamping site as a “relaxing retreat in nature.” The four pods would be dispersed across the agricultural land rather than concentrated in one area, with the layout intended to maintain the site’s open character.
The proposal also includes several measures aimed at integrating the development into the surrounding landscape. These include new hedgerow planting, areas of wildflower meadow, and the installation of bird and bat boxes.
The applicant said the development is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the farm’s financial resilience amid changing conditions in the agricultural sector.
“Like many rural enterprises, agricultural businesses are increasingly required to diversify their income streams in order to remain viable in the face of changing economic conditions, rising operational costs and fluctuations within agricultural markets,” the statement adds.
“To improve resilience, the applicant has already successfully diversified part of the Manor Farm business through the provision of holiday accommodation. The existing holiday cottages have performed well and have demonstrated demand for high-quality rural visitor accommodation in the area.
“The proposed glamping development represents a natural progression of this successful diversification strategy.”
For outdoor hospitality operators considering farm-based accommodation, the proposal illustrates how existing agricultural businesses can incorporate a small-scale glamping operation alongside established visitor accommodation.
The application also highlights operational considerations such as staffing, vehicle access, landscape screening, biodiversity measures, and the relationship between new guest facilities and the wider agricultural setting.
The planning application is currently awaiting consideration by Peterborough City Council. A decision date has not yet been specified, and the proposed four-pod development would remain subject to planning approval before construction could proceed.
