Donegal County Council has been urged to review its planning policies for glamping developments following discussions at a Special Plenary Meeting of the local authority, where elected officials and planners debated how best to balance tourism growth with development standards.
The issue was raised by Inishowen Councillor Martin McDermott, who called for a more flexible approach to planning approvals, particularly for projects located outside established town boundaries.
McDermott argued that current restrictions may be limiting tourism opportunities in the county at a time when accommodation costs are rising, and alternative lodging options are in demand.
“Different people have tried (to get planning) recently again, and we are having an issue when they are not within the town boundaries,” Cllr McDermott told Donegal Daily.
“Can we look at that policy in relation to making that more open? With the way things are going, we need to look at different ways we can bring tourism. Hotels are getting more expensive as the years go by. We are in a situation where we are not able to do that type of development in the county. Now is the opportunity.”
Council officials, however, indicated that concerns remain regarding the nature and quality of recent applications. Senior Planner Eunan Quinn noted that many proposals submitted since last year do not align with traditional definitions of glamping, instead resembling permanent holiday homes in scale and design.
“I suppose there is a need, perhaps, to have an understanding of the range of services and developments that we are talking about, because there is a tendency to have a lot of overlap between glamping pods, which is small-scale, glamorous camping, which is different from motorhomes,” he explained.
“Most of the applications that we have received, certainly since last year, most of them are essentially holiday homes as opposed to glamping pods.
“The provisions, and the preferred approach from ourselves, is that we are bolstering the facilities in our towns and villages.”
The discussion also highlighted differing views among council members about appropriate locations for glamping developments. Councillor Ali Farren, based in Malin Head, suggested that rural and remote settings are a key part of the appeal for glamping visitors.
“I understand that it is a body of work, but I would hate the thought that you could only get a glamping pod or touring caravan pitch next to a town or village,” he said.
“For the likes of Malin Head, where there is not a settlement area, they could be good for the area.”
In response, Quinn reiterated the council’s focus on ensuring developments are suitable for their locations rather than prioritizing volume.
“It is not necessarily a numbers game, but what is appropriate for a certain place. High quality rather than putting in a high number of units. There are viability issues.
“Our first target is not numbers, it is quality. So you are not ending up with something that is inappropriate in a particular location.”
McDermott acknowledged the need for quality standards but maintained that current policies may be preventing viable, high-end projects from moving forward.
“There are people in Clonmany and Ballyliffin who are prepared to do that high-end glamping, but they can not do it because of the policy,” he said.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality sector, the discussion reflects a broader regulatory challenge seen in many markets: defining glamping in planning frameworks while maintaining design standards and protecting local character.
The council’s emphasis on distinguishing between temporary, low-impact accommodations and permanent structures underscores the importance of clear project positioning during the application process.
Developers seeking approvals in similar jurisdictions may benefit from aligning proposals with local definitions of scale, mobility, and environmental integration, while also demonstrating how projects contribute to existing tourism infrastructure rather than competing with residential development policies.