Planning permission has been granted for a new glamping development near Great Ayton in North Yorkshire, with Redcar and Cleveland Council approving the application in April.
The project will see the installation of five partially subterranean glamping “burrows” on a nearly one-hectare parcel of farmland located off the A173 Newton Road.
The site is close to the North Yorkshire boundary and approximately one mile from the popular walking destination Roseberry Topping.
The proposal, submitted by ELG Planning on behalf of the applicant, outlines the conversion of a grazing site currently accommodating a farmhouse, Quarry House—occupied by the applicant’s parents—and an agricultural storage building.
The development is expected to create two full-time jobs and includes landscaping works and the construction of five new car parking spaces.
According to the planning statement submitted with the application, the site is well connected to the local footpath network, providing access to the North York Moors National Park, the Whinstone View restaurant and lodgings, and the nearby village of Newton under Roseberry.
“It is proposed to site five units of holiday accommodation, which will be served by an internal access road that connects to the existing access off Newton Road,” the statement reads.
The glamping units are designed to blend into the natural topography of the land, with the majority of each unit built into the ground, according to a report by Darlington & Stockton Times.
Green sedum roofs and walls are planned to reduce the visual impact, while lighting will be minimal and designed to prevent unnecessary light spill. The North York Moors National Park Authority noted that any lighting must be compliant with dark sky policies.
The development will use existing access arrangements to minimize additional hardstanding, and visibility splays will be implemented on adjoining land controlled by the applicant.
The site also benefits from some natural screening, which could be enhanced to further limit visibility from public vantage points.
Council documents concluded that the scale and design of the proposed development were acceptable.
A planning officer stated that “sympathetic” materials would be used, with no significant adverse impact on the landscape, highway safety, or neighboring properties.
The report also acknowledged a previous glamping approval granted in July 2023 for ten shepherd’s huts with hot tubs at High Farm, located about 1.5 miles away near Newton under Roseberry.
However, the officer concluded that the new application was “significantly different” in appearance and far enough away to avoid contributing to cumulative landscape impact.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality sector, this approval reflects a continuing interest in low-impact, landscape-sensitive tourism infrastructure.
Developments like these cater to demand for unique and eco-conscious accommodations while demonstrating how planning can align tourism growth with environmental considerations.