A proposal to develop four glamping pods near the event venue Priston Mill has been refused by Bath & North East Somerset Council, following a planning application submitted last year for land behind 36–37 Farmborough Lane in the village of Priston.
The application sought permission to install four accommodation pods along with an access route and six parking spaces on land associated with Pressbarrow Farm.
According to the application documents, the pods were intended to provide nearby lodging for guests attending events at Priston Mill, which hosts functions that can run over multiple days and often extend late into the evening.
The proposal argued that overnight accommodation options close to the venue are limited and that many visitors currently stay in the nearby city of Bath.
“This proposal offers excellent visitor accommodation, being only a few minutes walking distance from the Mill, thus avoiding having to travel by car to other overnight accommodation. No other similar accommodation exists in the area.”
Priston Parish Council supported the project and described it as a potential diversification for the farm. In its comments on the planning application, the parish council stated: “We consider it to be a suitable diversification of the farming activity and helping ensure the survival of this farm. We also consider there will be little impact on the openness of the Green Belt.”
According to Bath Echo, the council also emphasized the historical role of agriculture in the village and the connection between Pressbarrow Farm and the local community. “The subject of this application, Pressbarrow Farm, has involved four generations of the Lippiatt family and is an integral part of the village of Priston. The parish council wishes to see Pressbarrow Farm thrive and prosper.”
In addition to supporting the farm’s diversification, the parish council argued the accommodation could reduce traffic on local roads by allowing event guests to stay nearby rather than traveling to other towns. It noted that the village currently has only a small number of short-term rental properties and said many visitors rely on taxis to reach accommodations outside the area, which “is undesirable on our narrow lanes.”
The parish council also suggested several conditions if the development were approved, including increasing biodiversity through additional hedging around the pods and limiting site lighting. It further raised concerns about local infrastructure, noting that the village’s sewage treatment works may require upgrades before additional development is allowed.
“We continue to see problems with the overloading of the works, discharge into the brook, and flooding occasions are becoming more often.”
The proposal was initially recommended for refusal by planning officers at Bath & North East Somerset Council. Following the parish council’s objection to that recommendation, the application was referred to the chair and vice-chair of the planning committee to determine whether it should be considered by the full committee.
Vice chair Councillor Paul Crossley argued that the application warranted further discussion, stating: “Farming diversification is a very interesting issue under planning and policy in this area has some interesting examples around the area.
“I feel that this application merits further debate in public by committee, who may well want to reach a different conclusion to the officer recommendation. Therefore, I consider that this decision should be referred to committee for final decision by the council.”
However, committee chair Councillor Tim Ball determined that the matter could be decided under delegated authority, stating: “This can be delegated as it is in line with council policies.”
Planning officers subsequently refused the application. In their decision, they stated: “The proposal represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt. Very special circumstances do not exist to outweigh the harm caused by way of inappropriate development.”
The decision also cited the absence of proposals demonstrating biodiversity net gain, which is increasingly required in planning applications across England.
For operators in the outdoor hospitality and glamping sectors, the case highlights several planning considerations that can influence small-scale accommodation projects in rural areas.
Developments located within designated Green Belt land face stricter scrutiny, and applicants may need to demonstrate clear exceptional circumstances, biodiversity improvements, and supporting infrastructure capacity.
Projects linked to existing tourism or event venues can still encounter regulatory challenges if they conflict with land-use protections or environmental requirements.