The Lake District National Park Authority has granted planning approval for the installation of six self-contained glamping pods at The Raymond Priestley Centre in Hoathwaite, Torver, near the shoreline of Coniston Water.
The decision, made on May 8, includes conditions for the development and allows for the continued use of an existing yurt on the site.
The full planning application was submitted by the University of Birmingham, which owns and operates the centre.
The site is located away from the main road connecting Coniston and Torver, offering a secluded environment that aligns with the centre’s focus on outdoor education and nature-based learning.
According to the Times & Star, The Raymond Priestley Centre has been a part of the University of Birmingham’s educational infrastructure since 1947.
“The University of Birmingham have been visiting The Raymond Priestly Centre since 1947,” the report notes.
The idea for the centre’s location was suggested by Max Hadders, a lecturer in physical education during the 1940s, who proposed incorporating outdoor activities into the university’s recreation program for first-year students.
The report highlights the centre’s ongoing role in academic enrichment, stating that it “continues to provide a quality learning resource which supports undergraduate and postgraduate learning.”
It also emphasizes the significance of the natural setting in shaping the educational experience, adding: “PhD research projects have collected data from groups using the centre have been important in the world of outdoor education to validate the role outdoor learning has in student learning.”
From a development perspective, the glamping pods are intended to support both the educational mission of the centre and the broader tourism economy of the Lake District.
“This builds on the existing contributions of The Raymond Priestley Centre to the national park,” the report states, referring to the region’s well-established tradition of tourism and outdoor activities.
To reduce environmental disruption, the planning proposal includes the use of ground screws as a foundation method for the pods.
“This would eliminate the need to pour large concrete rafts into the ground for each pod,” the report explains. “This would cause the least amount of disruption to the existing ground as possible.”
For outdoor hospitality business owners, this approval highlights a growing intersection between educational programming and glamping accommodation.
It also reflects broader trends toward sustainable development in protected landscapes. Operators considering similar projects may look to this case as a model for balancing land use sensitivity with the demand for unique lodging options.