July 2021

Staycations
Here to Stay
DESPITE LOCKDOWN restrictions
easing, interest in holidaying within
the British Isles isn’t showing any
sign of diminishing reports holiday
home manufacturer Victory Leisure
Homes.
In a recent study it found that
holidaymakers are more likely to
holiday in the UK due to concerns
about environmental impact and
value for money.
Two thirds (66%) of the 2,008
people surveyed by Censuswide
said that the environment
played a big part in their holiday
planning. Two in five surveyed
(40%) considered value for money/
financial benefits as important
factors in their decision and 51.2%
agree that their priorities when
holidaying have shifted since the
outbreak of the pandemic. 25-34
year olds are most likely to holiday
in the UK.
Gary Corlyon, MD of Victory
Leisure Homes, said: “Every year,
we create close to 3,000 luxury
lodges and holiday homes for
holiday parks across the UK and
Ireland. Our orders have doubled
since the outbreak of Covid-19, as
interest grew exponentially.”
Extension of
56 Day Limits
FOLLOWING A concerted
campaign led by outdoor
accommodation booking
platform Pitchup.com, and
supported by a number
of national bodies, popup
campsites in England
will now be able to open
potentially until 31 October
this year.
In a government statement
issued on 28 June, local
authorities have been issued
with guidance not to take
enforcement action against
temporary campsites opening
this year under Permitted
Development Rights (PDR) to
ensure “planning controls are
not a barrier to local tourism
and hospitality’s economic
recovery”.
This effectively offers an
extension of the current 56
day limits, allowing sites
to make the best use of the
weather until the end of
October 2021.
The campaign to extend
PDR was backed by a range of
rural organisations including
the NFU, the Countryside
Alliance, Historic Houses,
the Campaign for Pubs and
the Federation of Small
Businesses. The statement
does not remove the
requirement for a camping
licence (for tents being on the
land for over 42 consecutive
days or over 60 nonconsecutive
days). However,
the government “will work
with local authorities to
facilitate a quick licensing
process this summer, and
authorities are encouraged to
expedite new applications for
licences to provide certainty
for applicants”.
Because a licence is only
required when tents are
on the land, this would
enable a longer season for
temporary campsites by
enabling moveable structures
to be sited for more than
56 days without a planning
application (i.e. up to 60
non-consecutive days of tent
camping without needing
a camping licence, with
moveable facilities on the
land for longer).
Sarah Lee, director of
policy and campaigns,
Countryside Alliance, said:
“This announcement is
welcome news for the many
rural land based businesses
who have been badly hit
over the last year. Relaxing
enforcement of PDRs means
there will be a larger number
of camping and caravanning
pitches available, providing
businesses with greater
flexibility and many more
families with a welcome
break in the countryside.
It will give a much needed
boost to the rural economy,
as businesses slowly start to
return to normality.”
Mansion Undergoes £20m Retreat Transformation
FOR THE past 35 years, the mansion on the
Gisburne Park Estate in the Ribble Valley has
operated as a private hospital.
This month, however, estate owners Guy
and Amber Hindley (see Entrepreneur’s
Chat, Open Air Business, Issue 36) have
taken back the keys with plans to invest
more than £20m to transform the 400 year
old mansion into a private members’ club,
luxury hotel, garden spa resort and art
centre.
When Guy inherited the estate in 2003
he turned it into a holiday destination
complete with luxury lodges, historic
houses, cottages and a boutique glamping
venue alongside a wedding destination.
Last year he held one of the country’s first
socially distanced music festivals.
Guy said: “I always had ambitions to
transform the hall into something great,
though never imagined I’d have the
opportunity to own it. I always assumed
it would be a project for my sons. Having
acquired the keys, Amber and I are now
setting out to transform hospitality in the
North and create a destination like no
other. We’re looking to create an exclusive
environment that blends art and culture
with like-minded people in a setting that is
unrivalled in the UK.
“We want our members and guests to
treat this as a second home. Here, guests
can dine, stay, work and play and, most
importantly, escape.” Work will begin later
this year.
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