The Racecourse Retreat site which is a mile from Wirksworth. Image from Google.
Report by Local Democracy Reporter – Eddie Bisknell
A Derbyshire farmer has revived repeatedly hampered plans to build glamping pods in the countryside, now with backing from the county’s tourism board.
Barry Britland, who owns the Racecourse Retreat campsite off Hey Lane, a mile outside Wirksworth, has filed new plans for four glamping pods.
Derbyshire Dales District Council will make a decision in the next few months.
This application follows nearly a year after Mr Britland’s previous plans for four glamping pods were rejected by councillors, and more than three years after plans for six glamping pods were rejected in 2022.
Councillors and officials felt this particular rural location, already a lawful campsite, was not suitable for this different form of camping because it was more exposed.
Residents had raised concerns about the campsite’s existing use, with noise from campers enjoying summertime barbecues and hot tubs disrupting their brick-and-mortar neighbours.
Previous concerns also included the lack of public transport connections to the site as a reason for refusal, with the scheme leaning on car travel.
The new application says: “It would provide clear social, economic and environmental benefits in relation to the provision of much needed holiday accommodation within an accessible and sustainable location without adversely impacting upon the character and appearance of the area, harming residential amenity or adversely impacting upon highway safety.”
Documents submitted with this new application state that the planned development is “identical” to that refused last May, but is now supported by acoustic surveys and a heritage impact assessment.
Two of the pods would be concrete and effectively merged into the hillside with soil piled on them, and would measure 9.65 metres in length and 3.45 metres in width, complete with a small outdoor deck.
The remaining two pods would be 10 metres long and 3.8 metres wide.
Sir Richard FitzHerbert, High Sheriff of Derbyshire, owner of Tissington Hall and chairman of the Visit Peak District and Derbyshire tourism board, has lent his support to the scheme.
He wrote to the council saying: “The proposal for new glamping pods at the Racecourse Retreat is a great asset to the accommodation in the immediate area and in the wider area surrounding the Peak District and should be applauded.
“The farm has been in the same family from the 1950s and are currently on the fifth generation. The farm needs to be diversified and, as such, the pods will enable new jobs and bring more tourists into the local economy.”
Documents in the application say Mr Britland would pay for a mini-bus service to serve the development, running for free from dedicated collection points such as Cromford train station or the local bus stop.
They write: “Tourism, including camping, is an important and established part of the local economy. The proposed development will provide a much needed low key tourism enterprise that will help to support the small holding and the wider community in terms of village facilities and bring significant economic benefits through increased local area spending and footfall.
“In addition, in light of the previous refusal, the applicant has reviewed the sustainability of the site and has provided a package of sustainable measures including the provision of a green travel plan and electric charging points which provide for the mitigation effects of climate change and encourage and promote sustainability by reducing reliance on the private car.
“Visitors would be able to access the site by a variety of transport options including walking and cycling as well as the private car.
“The village is within close proximity to the strategic highway network and public rights of way and is therefore considered a suitable and sustainable location for new holiday accommodation.”
