Fife Council has approved a proposal by Green Oak Ventures Ltd to establish new holiday accommodation within Craigs Plantation, part of the Fordell Estate. The project includes two glamping pods, two log cabins, and a storage container.
The site, located east of the B891 between Hillend and Crossgates, lies close to the Fordell Firs Scout Campsite and activity centre.
A planning statement submitted with the application noted that the woodland was historically used as a hutting site. In June 2024, work began to repurpose it into a commercial holiday accommodation site.
“It is acknowledged that these types of tourist developments would generally lend themselves to a countryside location,” the statement said.
“In addition, given the recent approval of the adjacent holiday accommodation and the range of land uses further south of the site, including the existing Scout’s outdoor activity facility at Fordell Firs, the proposal would therefore be compatible with its surrounds in simple land use terms.”
”Furthermore, given the partly retrospective nature of the proposal, the applicant is able to demonstrate that there is sufficient appetite for tourist accommodation in this location.”
Council planners confirmed that the proposed accommodation will be sited within an existing clearing, meaning no tree removals are required, according to Central Fife Times.
“The principle of the proposed development would be acceptable in this instance, and on balance the proposal would not have a significant detrimental impact on the visual amenity of the surrounding area, character of the wider countryside setting or the historic interests of The Fordell Castle Garden and Designed Landscape,” planners noted in their decision.
For outdoor hospitality professionals, this decision highlights how local councils in the UK are balancing preservation of natural and historic environments with the growing demand for nature-based holiday stays.
The approval may be of interest to operators exploring glamping or cabin-style accommodation, as it illustrates both regulatory considerations and the increasing acceptance of small-scale, low-impact projects in rural woodland settings.
Demand signals, such as the applicant’s ability to demonstrate market appetite, also reinforce the importance of local market testing and phased development when seeking approvals in sensitive areas.