Farmers in Chorley have submitted a planning application to introduce glamping accommodation as part of efforts to diversify their agricultural business.
Rob and Katie Mayor have asked Chorley Borough Council for permission to build three single-bed glamping pods on their land off Higher House Lane in Heapey.
The proposal outlines that the pods would be located at the top of a field, accessible via an existing track, with a new gravel link road connecting to the accommodation.
According to the Lancashire Post, each unit would include a dedicated parking space and be enclosed with post-and-wire fencing and hedge planting to maintain privacy and prevent pets from straying.
A planning statement submitted with the application noted:
“Mr Mayor is a third-generation local farmer whose family have been involved in farming since the 1930s in Whittle-le-Woods.”
”As is well known, the agricultural industry in this country has become increasingly more difficult to make a living from, and the proposed development represents a farm diversification scheme which will go a long way to ensuring that the farming business moves towards being self-sufficient.”
The couple’s agent described the proposal as “a high-quality tourism scheme that will be a welcome boost to the Chorley Borough’s rural economy,” adding that it would align with transport sustainability policies.
The agent argued that guests would arrive equipped for outdoor activities, noting that “applicants’ customers will be turning up for their holidays with their own walking boots and mountain bikes.”
Chorley Borough Council is expected to make a decision on the application in the coming weeks.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality sector, the proposal highlights the ongoing trend of farmers and landowners turning to glamping as a diversification strategy.
With increasing pressures on traditional farming, glamping pods and other forms of rural accommodation offer potential pathways to supplement income while supporting local tourism.
Projects like the Mayors’ also demonstrate how small-scale developments can balance rural character with new visitor opportunities, a consideration that operators across the sector may weigh when exploring growth or sustainability initiatives.