The University of Birmingham has submitted a planning application to the Lake District National Park Authority for the installation of six glamping pods at its Raymond Priestly Centre, located on the shore of Coniston.
The proposal aims to expand the site’s residential capacity and enhance the visitor experience.
The Raymond Priestly Centre is an outdoor education facility owned and operated by the University of Birmingham. It offers residential learning programs and outdoor activities to students, staff, and their families.
The centre is known for its focus on experiential learning, with activities such as canoeing, mountain walking, and problem-solving tasks designed to foster teamwork and personal development.
According to the planning documents, each of the proposed glamping pods will feature three bedrooms, increasing the centre’s capacity by an additional 36 people.
The university stated in the planning statement that the additional accommodation will help improve and expand the centre’s offerings.
The statement reads: “The university would like to increase the residential capacity of the site to accommodate an additional 36 people, in order to improve and increase the centre as a resource for the university.”
According to a report by The Westmorland Gazette, the planning application also seeks to enhance the overall visitor experience at the centre.
The statement further explains: “As well as the additional capacity, the proposals also seek to improve the visitor experience, to ensure the continuing success of the centre for years to come.”
The Raymond Priestly Centre is part of the university’s sports department and is one of three UK universities with its own dedicated outdoor education centre.
It is a multi-award-winning facility that has earned recognition from the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres for achieving the ‘Gold Standard’ in the quality of its programs.
The centre is also a recognised teaching site for the Royal Yachting Association and a Sailability Centre.
The planning application is currently under review.