A planning application has been submitted to South Kesteven District Council for the creation of an off-grid glamping park on grassland behind 8 Bourne Road in Folkingham, Lincolnshire.
The proposal, brought forward by applicant Sarah Neale, outlines the development of eight professionally managed glamping pods designed to operate with minimal environmental impact.
The submission was prepared by Plots and Plans Design Services, which described the project as a way to repurpose underused land while contributing to the local economy.
“The glamping park will bring tourism back to the area, increase revenue to the village and its facilities, as well as provide a project that is low-key visually and low-carbon based,” the planning documents state.
According to the application, the pods will primarily cater to professionals and older visitors seeking a peaceful and secluded experience. The units will be timber-framed, metal-clad, and elevated to limit their impact on the landscape.
Access to the site is planned via Greenfields Lane. The design includes restrictions prohibiting loud music, stag and hen parties, or groups of young people to maintain a quiet atmosphere.
“This development is designed to fit in with the local environment, but with the funding that the glamping park will bring back into the rural business, it will allow reinvestment into creating an extensive woodland area that will grow up around the glamping units,” the applicant told LincsOnline.
Currently, the site houses a garage and machinery used for rural maintenance. The proposal includes ecological enhancements such as new habitats for birds, bats, and insects, and an emphasis on biodiversity.
Electric vehicle charging points will be installed on site. Existing solar infrastructure on a nearby property may be expanded with additional panels or a turbine as needed.
The proposal draws on a precedent established in 2021, when a similar eco-friendly project in Bourne led to the development of sustainable bungalows.
According to Plots and Plans Go Eco, the Folkingham glamping park could be promoted as a model for low-carbon rural development. The project may be featured at an upcoming exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham next year.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality sector, this proposal highlights increasing demand for environmentally sensitive, off-grid accommodations.
It also illustrates how glamping businesses are using reinvestment models that benefit biodiversity and long-term land stewardship, positioning these ventures as viable tools for both rural tourism and sustainable development.