A proposal to develop a small glamping site on the outskirts of Bewdley has been rejected by Wyre Forest District Council.
The application, submitted earlier this year, sought permission to install four shepherd huts, along with a separate shower and toilet block, on the grounds of a detached residential property known as The Coppins, located on Kidderminster Road.
According to planning documents, the glamping units were to be positioned along the western hedge line of the property’s rear field.
Each hut was designed to include flexible bench seating with storage, a fold-down double bed, a small kitchen area, and heating provided by a log burner.
The exterior was to be constructed from oak cladding with matching windows and doors, topped with a green corrugated sheet roof. Each unit was planned to rest on flagstones set in 100 mm-thick concrete.
“The huts will be constructed of oak cladding with matching oak windows and doors with a green corrugated sheet roof, and each wheel will be set on a flagstone which will be set in 100m thick concrete,” the applicant stated, according to a report by The Shuttle.
“Inside, each hut will provide flexible bench seating with storage that also supports a fold-down double bed, there is a small kitchen area, and heating via a log burner.”
A detached shower and toilet block was included in the proposal, with its location set west of an existing workshop and storage facility on the property. Four parking spaces were to be provided at the end of the access track near this structure.
The applicant maintained that the development would not constitute inappropriate use of Green Belt land, citing relevant policies in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the local development plan.
“The site is within the Green Belt, but by virtue of the policies in the NPPF, which are reflected in the Local Plan, the proposal is not inappropriate development in the Green Belt,” the planning statement noted. “The proposal does not undermine the functions of the Green Belt.”
However, concerns were raised during the review process regarding the potential loss of green space and the impact on the visual character of the countryside between Bewdley and Kidderminster.
Objections emphasized the significance of the Green Belt in maintaining a natural buffer between communities and preserving open landscape.
On Wednesday, May 21, the council issued its formal refusal, citing the development’s location outside any defined settlement boundary and its placement within open countryside.
The council’s decision stated that the proposal would result in a “significant adverse impact on the landscape character of this part of the countryside.”
For outdoor hospitality operators, this decision highlights the planning sensitivities surrounding developments in designated Green Belt areas.
While demand for unique accommodations like shepherd huts continues to grow, glamping businesses exploring rural or semi-rural expansion should consider the importance of alignment with local development plans and landscape protection policies.
Early engagement with planning authorities and community stakeholders may also help identify viable paths forward in similar contexts.