Campsite operators in Dorset, including those planning to establish new sites, have begun submitting applications for the 2025 season to Dorset Council. The early applications come in the wake of several rejections in 2023 and 2024, with many denials tied to environmental protections.
Planning refusals have often been attributed to guidelines aimed at safeguarding sensitive areas such as Poole Harbour, a Ramsar designated site, as well as heathlands and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) across the county.
Dorset Council has been adhering to Environment Agency recommendations to protect these areas from potential ecological impacts.
One recent approval includes a campsite near Tolpuddle at Shakes Hole, Southover. Permission was granted for the continued use of 10 safari-style tents and five caravans, along with the retention of facilities such as raised decking and the addition of a multi-purpose building for storage and meetings.
However, the decision faced opposition from local residents, who raised concerns about inadequate road access and potential safety risks to pedestrians and horse riders from increased traffic.
In Chickerell, Dorset Council has approved a 60-day pop-up campsite off Fleet Lane. Additionally, Ringstead Farm sought permission for two 60-day operating periods, while an application for camping use has been submitted for farmland off Chalky Road in Broadmayne.
On Brownsea Island, the National Trust has applied for a certificate of lawful use for two camping areas accommodating up to 200 people at a time from Easter to late September annually.
According to a report by the Dorset Echo, not all applications have been successful. A request for a certificate of lawful use at Oathill Farm Holiday and Touring Park near Drimpton was recently denied. The refusal centers on Dorset Council’s interpretation of a 2008 planning consent and disputes over technical definitions within that approval.
While the decision does not affect current operations at the site, it could limit proposed future changes. The operators have the option to appeal the ruling.
