East Devon District Council has approved a retrospective planning application allowing six luxury glamping huts at celebrity chef Michael Caines’ Lympstone Manor to remain on site, despite initial concerns about environmental impact and planning compliance.
The shepherd huts, situated within a wooded area on the grounds of the five-star hotel, were originally installed without formal planning permission.
An application to retain the huts was first submitted in 2021 but was later withdrawn. A revised version was brought forward in 2022 and reviewed by the council’s planning committee on April 22, 2025.
Planning officers recommended approval of the huts with specific conditions, citing minimal harm to the surrounding environment and a positive impact on the local economy.
According to officers, the development would result in “less than substantial harm” to the designated undeveloped coast and coastal protection area.
In a report by East Devon News, they further noted that the accommodation supports tourism and employment in the region, aligning with East Devon’s economic objectives.
Council member Cllr Tim Dumper (Liberal Democrats, Exmouth Halsdon), speaking on behalf of Exmouth Town Council, raised objections to the project.
He argued that environmental protections were not adequately prioritized and questioned the emphasis placed on the potential tourism benefits.
“The environmental protection issues in the current report are not given sufficient weight, and the rather limited potential for local economic development and tourism is given undue weight,” he stated.
Dumper also emphasized the proximity of National Trust land and expressed concern about classifying a 30-year permission as “temporary.”
Tom Winters, economic development manager for the council, said the huts aligned with the area’s tourism strategy and noted they had generated five local jobs.
“Accommodation is the main source of profitability for the hotel,” Winters said, adding that rejecting the application could result in job losses.
Planning committee members discussed whether the huts were sited in the least disruptive location within the woodland. Officers confirmed that this had been evaluated.
The final decision was to grant planning permission for all six shepherd huts, including relocating one of them. The vote passed with six members in favor, three against, and five abstaining.
For owners and developers in the outdoor hospitality sector, this decision reflects ongoing flexibility in planning policy when tourism benefits and job creation are demonstrated.
It may also indicate a path forward for others seeking to introduce or formalize non-traditional accommodations, especially when projects are integrated sensitively into the natural landscape.