Plans to expand a holiday accommodation operation at Woody Kiln Farm in Herbrandston, Pembrokeshire, have been approved by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, allowing the owners to diversify their tourism offering beyond an existing caravan and motorhome site.
Dean and Sharon Philpin submitted an application seeking permission to convert a former agricultural barn complex into four short-term holiday let units at the farm, which already hosts a Caravan & Motorhome Club Certificated Location for up to five touring caravans and motorhomes.
According to a supporting statement submitted through Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, the farm is an active agricultural holding covering approximately 12 to 13 acres and is primarily used for sheep grazing. The application focused on three interconnected barns within the farm complex.
The supporting statement said: “Woody Kiln Farm is located to the east of Herbrandston village, to the south easterly side of Havens Park residential estate. It is a registered agricultural holding, and the land is used mainly for the raising and grazing of sheep covering 12 / 13 acres.
“The farm complex comprises of a number of traditional outbuildings and the applicants main dwelling surrounding a surfaced courtyard. Immediately to the south is a caravan site registered with the Caravan & Motorhome Club as a Certificated Location for up to five touring caravans and motorhomes.
“This Certificated Location has been in operation for 10 years and was the first ever site to be voted the best site in UK on its first year of operating by its members. In recent years it was voted best site in Wales.”
According to the Western Telegraph, the site has received multiple awards within the Caravan & Motorhome Club network during its decade of operation.
Explaining the proposal, the statement added: “The application proposal relates to a total of three barns that integrate into one building footprint. It is intended to reuse the barns and provide four short-term holiday let units that will be run in conjunction with our client’s current Caravan Club site, situated immediately to the east of the barns.”
The application emphasized the retention of the existing agricultural character of the buildings. The statement described the proposal as: “A sympathetic design that incorporates no change to the footprint or roof design and little change to the fenestration is the main theme of the design strategy.”
Planning officers recommended approval, subject to several conditions. One of the key considerations involved the potential residential use of the proposed units. An officer report stated: “Strategic Policy have advised that the scale and layout of the units could lend themselves to residential use and that an affordable housing contribution may be required.
“Whilst the proposed use is short-term holiday let given that the properties are capable of use as full residential properties, it is proposed that a full unfettered residential permission be granted, with no condition for holiday let-only, meaning that the property could be used for full residential use or second home use.”
As part of the approval, the applicants are required to make an affordable housing contribution of £26,170 through a unilateral undertaking agreement. The application was subsequently approved subject to conditions, including the affordable housing requirement.
For campground, caravan park, RV park, and glamping operators, the approval highlights the continued role of adaptive reuse projects in expanding accommodation capacity without significant new construction.
Converting existing agricultural buildings into guest accommodations can provide operators with an opportunity to diversify revenue streams, extend seasonal demand, and appeal to travelers seeking a wider range of lodging options while making use of existing site infrastructure.