A Derbyshire farmer has submitted a fresh planning application for four glamping pods near Wirksworth, reviving proposals that have previously been refused by councillors in 2022 and again in May 2025.
Barry Britland, owner of the Racecourse Retreat campsite off Hey Lane, about a mile outside the town, is seeking approval from Derbyshire Dales District Council, which is expected to determine the application in the coming months.
The site already operates as a lawful campsite, but earlier applications for glamping accommodation were rejected on the basis that the rural location was considered unsuitable for this form of development.
Councillors and planning officers previously raised concerns that the site was more exposed than other locations, and residents nearby objected to noise associated with existing camping use, including social gatherings, barbecues and hot tubs. Limited access to public transport and a perceived reliance on car travel also formed part of the earlier refusals.
The latest application follows almost a year after the most recent refusal and proposes the same scale of development, with planning documents describing the scheme as “identical” to that rejected in May 2025.
However, the resubmission is accompanied by additional supporting information, including acoustic surveys and a heritage impact assessment, which were not part of the earlier proposals.
Under the plans, two of the four pods would be constructed in concrete and set into the hillside, with soil placed over them to reduce visual impact. These pods would measure 9.65 metres in length and 3.45 metres in width and include small outdoor decks. The remaining two pods would be slightly larger, measuring 10 metres by 3.8 metres.
According to DerbyshireLive, the planning statement argues that the development would offer wider benefits, stating:
“It would provide clear social, economic and environmental benefits in relation to the provision of much-needed holiday accommodation within an accessible and sustainable location without adversely impacting upon the character and appearance of the area, harming residential amenity or adversely impacting upon highway safety.”
The scheme has received backing from Sir Richard FitzHerbert, High Sheriff of Derbyshire and chairman of Visit Peak District and Derbyshire.
In a letter to the council, he said: “The proposal for new glamping pods at the Racecourse Retreat is a great asset to the accommodation in the immediate area and in the wider area surrounding the Peak District and should be applauded. The farm has been in the same family from the 1950s and are currently on the fifth generation. The farm needs to be diversified and, as such, the pods will enable new jobs and bring more tourists into the local economy.”
To address previous concerns around sustainability and transport, the application includes a proposal for a free minibus service funded by Mr Britland, operating from collection points such as Cromford train station and a local bus stop.
The documents also reference a green travel plan, electric vehicle charging points, and encouragement of walking and cycling, stating: “Visitors would be able to access the site by a variety of transport options, including walking and cycling, as well as the private car.”
For professionals in the outdoor hospitality and glamping sectors, the case highlights the importance of responding directly to planning refusals with targeted evidence, such as noise assessments, heritage reports and transport mitigation measures.
It also underscores how diversification, sustainability credentials and third-party support from regional tourism bodies can play a role in strengthening repeat applications, particularly in sensitive rural settings where planning scrutiny is high.