Plans for a new glamping site at Banbury Hill Farm, north of Charlbury, are scheduled for a decision by West Oxfordshire District Council next week.
The proposal, submitted by Spellbound Glamping in November 2023, involves converting an agricultural field to accommodate 18 camping units, including bell tents, a-frame pods, and shepherd huts, along with a café, reception area, two toilet and shower blocks, a storage barn, and parking spaces.
The development has attracted local opposition. Council officers are recommending refusal of the application, citing the applicant’s failure to provide sufficient information on how the project would achieve a net gain in biodiversity.
Officers’ reports noted that, while the proposal supports local tourism and is a reasonable size, it does not demonstrate compliance with biodiversity requirements, which planners prioritize due to the climate emergency.
According to the Oxford Mail, the application received 48 objections from local residents. Ten households on Spelsbury Road, adjacent to the woodland near the site, submitted a joint objection highlighting potential impacts on nature, biodiversity, and nearby walkers and residents.
Friends of the West Oxfordshire Cotswolds also raised concerns, stating: “While it is important to encourage visitors and provide access to the National Landscape this needs to be balanced against its conservation.”
”There would seem to be no reason why the two existing campsites near Charlbury, close to this site on Spelsbury Road, and at Banbury Hill Farm, neither of which are sited within a Conservation Target Area, could not accommodate this type of camping offering.”
CPRE West Oxfordshire added that the change of use would result in “an unacceptable and adverse loss of habitat for flora and fauna in the area” and could increase noise pollution for surrounding houses.
They also noted that sustainability considerations are key to glamping, particularly regarding shower and toilet facilities, and questioned the use of permanent foundations.
Charlbury Town Council and the district ecologist also submitted objections. The council’s decision next week will determine whether the project can proceed.
For outdoor hospitality business owners, the case highlights the importance of demonstrating environmental compliance and sustainable planning in new glamping developments, particularly within protected or conservation-sensitive areas.