After four years of consideration, Durham County Council has approved a major expansion of Thorpe Farm, a caravan site and farm shop located adjacent to the A66. The plan, first submitted in November 2021 by site owner Paul Barkes, proposes the addition of 54 static caravan pitches, 14 touring pitches, and 24 camping pods to the existing holiday park.
The proposal faced opposition from several neighbours, including Rokeby Park owners Mortham Estate, and from the conservation group CPRE (formerly the Campaign to Protect Rural England). Support for the project came from Visit County Durham, which cited potential benefits to local tourism.
ELG Planning, representing Mr Barkes, stated in a design and access statement that the expansion would take place in a field north of the current site. The statement noted that the field is already well-screened by landforms and existing landscaping along its eastern, northern, and western edges.
“All the existing vegetation surrounding the site would be retained as valued features in the landscape,” the statement said.
“New native tree and shrub planting is proposed along the east and west boundaries of the lower field. Native hedges are proposed along the current fenced boundary between the application site and existing holiday park and along the northern boundary of the site.”
”The proposed caravan park extension will be closely connected to the existing holiday park and, partly due to the topography of the site with over half the site being positioned at a lower level than the existing park and partly due to existing vegetation and proposed mitigation planting, the extension will have only a minimal impact on the character of the area.”
According to the Teesdale Mercury, Thorpe Farm’s holiday park was originally granted permission in March 2012 and has since developed to include a farm shop, restaurant, and other visitor attractions. The council’s south and west planning committee formally approved the expansion plans during its meeting on November 20, 2025.
The approval of the project reflects broader trends in rural tourism and outdoor hospitality, where expanding capacity and diversifying accommodation options are becoming important strategies for private holiday parks seeking to meet rising visitor demand while maintaining environmental considerations.
For operators in the sector, the project highlights the value of careful site planning, mitigation measures, and stakeholder engagement when pursuing expansions.