The Test Valley Borough Council’s Southern Area Planning Committee permitted a plan to transform a field at Manor Farm in North End, Broughton, Hampshire, into an off-grid campsite.
The decision, made on July 23, allows landowner Dagan James to operate a small-scale camping facility from April to October each year. The proposed campsite will feature four tents, a toilet and shower facility, a covered dining area, and a car park.
Anna Hebard, the applicant’s agent, emphasized the importance of this project for the farm. “This is a small-scale, off-grid campsite. This is essential for the farm to diversify. This provides an excellent opportunity to provide a regular income. The site will be screened from the public view,” she said, as reported by Hampshire Chronicle on July 27.
The planning officers’ report also indicated that the proposal would not result in “adverse impacts on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, heritage assets, residential amenities, or ecology”
Another aspect of the proposal is the potential economic benefits. The report further emphasized that the proposal would bring economic benefits and help sustain the local community and economy.
“As a result, it is considered that, in this instance, there are other material considerations that weigh significantly in favor of the proposals and that this outweighs the in principle conflict with the development plan,” the planning officers’ report explained.
Councilor Neil Gwynne also voiced support for the project, emphasizing the necessity of rural diversification. “We need the diversification of the countryside for it to continue. We can’t just stick to agriculture,” Gwynne said.
However, the decision to approve the campsite faced opposition, with the application receiving 14 objections and only one supporting comment. Despite these concerns, the planning committee voted unanimously in favor of the proposal.
Councilor Alison Johnston expressed concerns about the implications of such developments. “This is about losing arable farmland. It seems to me a bit of short-termism. We should be looking a bit more strategically across these farmyard applications to ensure we’re not severely compromising our farming capacity,” Johnston explained.
The approval of this campsite at Manor Farm aligns with broader farm diversification trends. A study on small New England dairies highlighted the importance of diversification in enhancing farm resilience and coping with market shocks.
