Plans have been submitted to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority seeking detailed planning permission to develop three holiday accommodation pods at Highfield Farm in Glen Fruin, as the owners pursue farm diversification to support the long-term viability of their agricultural business.
The application, submitted by Robert Sharp and Sons, proposes three self-contained holiday pods along with the formation of a new access track at Highfield Farm on Highfields Road. The family-operated farm has been under the Sharp family’s stewardship since 1932 and currently operates as a working beef farm.
The national park authority is expected to make a decision on the application by late August. In the meantime, members of the public can review the proposal and submit comments through the authority’s planning portal using reference number 2026/0131/DET.
According to a supporting planning statement prepared by MH Planning Associates, “The pods would measure 3.5m x 6m on plan (including a small covered external decking area leading from the entrance door of around 700mm).
“They will be 3m in height and would be mounted on top of a base of approximately 225mm in height that in turn would sit on top of the existing ground.
“The pods will be finished in vertical timber larch cladding and will have a curved roof finished in corrugated metal sheeting (or a similarly appropriate material).
“The internal layout is open plan with a separate bathroom with a w/c and shower. Small external boilers are proposed which will each be located to the rear elevation of the pods and will be enclosed in a unit measuring approximately 1.2m x 0.6m x 2.1m in height. A shared car parking area with space for three cars, and access turning area is also proposed.”
The planning statement also provides background on the farming operation and the reasons for pursuing the development, according to the Helensburgh Advertiser.
It states: “Highfield Farm is an existing rural business, i.e. it is a working farm. The Sharp family took on the tenancy in May 1932 so are now in their 94th year.
“In 2016 they were given the opportunity to purchase the farmhouse and steading and around 25 acres of land, with a further 35 acres on a long-term lease agreement and 50 acres on a seasonal agreement.
“The farm currently carries 28 Aberdeen Angus beef cows which calf in the spring to an Aberdeen Angus bull. Calves are sold around early March the following spring, and replacements are kept.
“The fam business is managed by two, brothers Billy and Robert, who also operate a small business offering contract services to other landowners.
“Billy and Robert are now looking to diversify their business in order to assist with the long-term financial stability of the farm (which they are keen to expand) by offering a quality short stay experience to visitors in the area.”
The proposal reflects a broader trend across the outdoor hospitality sector, where farms are incorporating cabins, glamping pods, and other short-stay accommodations to generate additional income alongside traditional agricultural operations.
For campground, glamping, and RV park operators, projects such as this demonstrate the continued interest in small-scale accommodations that can leverage existing rural land while requiring relatively limited site infrastructure.
However, developments within national parks often undergo careful planning review to balance tourism opportunities with environmental, landscape, and community considerations, making the planning process a key factor in project timelines and investment planning.
If approved, the development would add three short-stay accommodation units to the tourism offering in the Glen Fruin area while providing an additional revenue stream intended to support the long-term sustainability of the family farm. The application will remain open for public review until the planning authority completes its assessment, with a decision anticipated by late August.